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The University of Waikato

Private Bag 3105

Hamilton, New Zealand

0800 WAIKATO

www.waikato.ac.nz

Student perceptions of the value of Panopto

Alison Campbell, Tracy Bowell, & Lyn Hunt

12 April 2023

Virtual lecture capture (VLC) technologies such as Panopto allow students & staff to access lectures outside of ‘normal’ classes:•audio•video•powerpoint slides•‘in-show’ videos/websites•anything else that the camera is configured to record

more flexible learning opportunities.

Potential benefits for all participants.

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Many academic staff express concerns that use of VLC will see a drop in lecture attendance.

Student attitudes/perceptions?

?

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Using Panopto at the University of Waikato

Surveyed students in BIOL101, STAT121, PHIL250.168 students responded to a question on how often they used VLC resources:

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27% of students did not make use of recorded lectures

•Have attended lectures & do not require catching up through panopto;

•Did not need to, course notes were substantial;

•They didn't work properly quite often;

•I only have dial-up internet at my house out in the country.

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Of those who accessed recordings at least some of the time, 2/3 found them very helpful, & the rest ‘somewhat helpful’.

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Students’ reasons for using recordings indicate that the availability of lectures in this mode supports more flexible learning options:

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Some users look at lectures soon after the original class.

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Recordings are obviously used as a revision tool

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For those who didn’t use recordings, access is an issue for a large minority (20.3%).

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But what are students’ perceptions of VLC?•They are always good to go back on & go over if something was missed or hard to grasp.

•It didn't put me off going to the lectures because I found the lectures easier to learn from but was so useful when I needed to go over something the lecturer had said.

•Even though I haven't used them, I feel they are good to have & do like having them there if required.

•As a tool for long-distance learning I think that they are excellent. But having the lectures available to watch could have a detrimental effect on class attendance.

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• Makes learning easier for people who are visual & listening learners.

• If I forgot about a topic etc I could go back to panopto to re-look at it & get a better understanding. If I missed a lecture for some reason I was able to go back and watch it.

• I could go back & pause important information & write notes about things I missed in class.

• I never missed a lecture but as exams get closer I know I will definitely use it to revise.

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They also felt that lecturers might benefit from more training:•most recordings were missing sound/not recorded at all;

that students needed clearer advice on access options:•I was unaware there were lecture recordings;•Is there a 'how to use' guide on panopto somewhere? I am completely new to this & I cannot access all its features;

and that VLC should be expanded into other papers & classes:•Keep doing this! Helps my understanding. I wish my other lecturers did this too.

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And the lecturers’ perceptions?Concerns that making VLC recordings available would see a drop in

lecture attendance weren’t realised.

Good to be able to do ‘extra’ recordings to cover difficult concepts.

Extremely beneficial learning tool for students who have to miss a class.

Allows students to be more flexible in what & how they learn – opportunity to become more responsible for their own learning.

Richer & more engaging experience than simply reading through lecture notes.

Not perfect e.g. only the lecturer’s input to a class is recorded.

Well worth using to reflect on one’s own teaching performance.

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Where to from here?