<p>Have any of you used a recorder for lectures, and how permitting were the professors?</p>
<p>At any university for any class (unless you have a documented disability that calls for recording lectures) you just need to ask the professor. It can actually get quite complicated if you have classmates that don’t want to be recorded. For my students (not at Pitt), I hated that they would have to listen to me TWICE–or more.</p>
<p>I actually bought a recorder for my daughter because she had a scheduling conflict and was going to ask someone to record the lectures. The recorder was never taken out of the packaging!</p>
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<p>I can’t really see why you’d need it…? I mean, do you not plan on taking notes or going to class? (Legitimate question). And yeah, it can get a bit iffy legally if your classmates don’t want to be recorded…</p>
<p>Like MD Mom said, I don’t think you’ll end up using it.</p>
<p>Yes, I do plan on going to class and taking notes. I’m just nervous about not getting all the information the professor is saying if I’m concentrated on taking notes. I see where you’re coming from with the students and I have no intention on intruding on anyone. My mom brought up the idea of using a recorder and I’d been researching it. It seems a lot of students do use them, but I wasn’t sure of the experience at Pitt.</p>
<p>I don’t know what your major will be, but if you are really worried about getting everything down in your notes, one of the best things you can do is read your text material that is going to be covered in lecture before lecture and take notes. You will learn very quickly whether the prof follows the text and if you have read it, it will be much easier to figure out what is important.</p>
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<p>Most of your classes will probably be freshman level classes. The professors understand they’re covering a lot of in-depth material to students who aren’t quite used to college yet, so they won’t go very fast/will always make sure you copy down what you need to know.</p>
<p>As of yet, I have yet to have a teacher that wrote/spoke too fast for me to both copy down notes and pay attention. They’re pretty good about slowing down or waiting if you need them to, I’ve never had an issue asking a professor to “please go back a slide” or “wait please” while writing notes. Also a lot of professors will ask the class if everyone wrote down material before they move/erase stuff. :)</p>
<p>I had one professor that spoke far too quickly, but it was a nervous habit as opposed to a method of teaching, and someone just had to gather the courage to ask her to slow down once in a while. I can’t see that not working, unless nobody else in the class feels that the prof goes too quickly (or the professor is a complete jerk and only speaks quickly to scare students…)</p>
<p>I have yet to come across a class where using a recorder in lecture would actually be helpful.</p>
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<p>Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a student with one. Making a few friends per class is a much better way to go. That way they can at least help you decipher the notes and classwork, etc. The voice recorder would only replay what the professor has already stated.</p>
<p>In my Bio 2 class last semester, quite a few students would record the lectures. The professor had no problem with it. However, a friend of mine who did use a recorder told me that she actually never went back and listened to the lectures when she was studying.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your replies, I have a better idea of what the need for one is. I think I’ll hold off on getting one until I feel like I would benefit, versus right away. Thanks!</p>