At a Glance

Have a question about how livestreaming and classroom recordings will work? Explore the frequently asked questions and their answers below.

Tip: This FAQ is for in-person courses. For online courses, refer to the overview for teaching in Fall 2024.

Overview

How will livestreams and recordings work for in-person courses?

Note: Recitations are NOT recorded by default. STS can livestream and record recitations upon request by the teaching team.

Will the livestream and its recording use Zoom?

No. Livestreams and their recordings use Panopto. This is called a Panopto Webcast. There will not be a Zoom component to class sessions other than for remote guest speakers or extenuating circumstances.

Note: If you have a Remote Guest Speaker, request our support 3-5 business days in advance so we can prepare together.

What is a Panopto Webcast?

A Panopto Webcast is a one-way livestream (with audio and video) of your class session. This means remote students can watch and listen to your class in real time, but they cannot participate.

I have a student who cannot attend my class in-person. How do they request access to a livestream or classroom recording?

Students can request access to a livestream or classroom recording if absent from class.

If you approve the student’s request, you can share a livestream and/or classroom recording with them in Canvas.

I have a student who cannot attend my class in-person. Can they participate (interact) in my class sessions via the livestream?

No. Livestreaming is a one-way experience. This means remote students can watch and listen to your class in real time, but they cannot participate.

Schedule Your Livestream and its Recording

What do I need to do to schedule my livestream and its recording?

  • For Fall 2024:
    • Nothing. For in-person courses in Fall 2024, Sloan Technology Services (STS) will automatically schedule and record livestreams for all “lecture” sessions.

What if I have changes to my livestream and classroom recording schedule?

Submit a support ticket with your requested changes. STS will review your request and respond within 48 hours.

When will the livestream and its recording start and end?

Classroom livestreams and their recordings start on Sloan time (5 minutes after the scheduled start of the class). Class recordings automatically stop at the scheduled end time of the class.

When and where will the recording be made available?

It takes approximately 1 hour for a class recording to process and upload to the Videos tool in your Canvas course. This is an automated process.

Manage Your Livestream and its Recording

How do I control the livestream while I’m teaching?

Livestreams are scheduled in advance. We do NOT recommend controlling (e.g., Pause or stop) the livestream while you’re teaching using the Teaching Table in the classroom. Instead, we recommend editing the recording after class in Panopto.

Example: You might want to trim a 5-minute stretch break from the recording. See Quick Start Guide: Panopto for more information and step-by-step instructions for editing recordings.

For advanced control of a scheduled livestream or if you have extenuating circumstances, request a consultation for Classroom Technology Essentials.

What do students see in the livestream and its recording by default?

Classroom livestreams and recordings display the following default views:

  • Stage view of the classroom
    • This is a fixed, wide shot of the room.
    • This is typically the primary source for audio and video.
  • Center screen
    • This is typically used to display the presenter’s content.
  • Side screen (optional)
    • This is off by default, but you can choose to display additional content here (e.g., document camera, remote attendees, etc.)
    • This is will be recorded regardless if content is displayed on it by the teaching team or not.

Can I adjust what remote students see in the livestream?

No. By default, remote students will see the stage view, center screen, and side screen content.

Can I adjust what views students see in the recording?

Teaching teams can adjust which views are displayed in the recordings in post-production using Panopto.

Note: The primary source for audio and video cannot be removed.

Edit Recordings

Can I edit a recording?

Yes. You can trim a video in Panopto through the Video tool in Canvas. Panopto provides step-by-step guides. You can also browse our training catalog.

Who is responsible for editing recordings?

Teaching teams are responsible for editing their own recordings.

Share Your Livestream and/or Recording

How do I share a livestream and classroom recording with my students in Canvas?

To share your livestream/recording, see How to Share a Livestream and Classroom Recording in Canvas.

Can I control which students are able to join the livestream and/or view the recording?

Yes. You can share the livestream/recording in two ways:

  1. With the entire class (i.e., everybody enrolled in your Canvas course)
  2. With individual students at your discretion

You can manage these permissions through the Videos tool in your Canvas course. See Quick Start Guide: Panopto for more information and step-by-step instructions.

How do remote students join the livestream for my class?

Students can join the Panopto Webcast (livestream) of your class through the Videos tool in your Canvas course. See How to Join a Classroom Livestream and View a Classroom Recording as a Student for more information and step-by-step instructions for students.

How do remote students view the recording of a past livestream?

Students can view a recording of a past Panopto Webcast (livestream) of your class through the Videos tool in your Canvas course.

Can a guest join the livestream or view its recording?

Yes. The guest must have access to your Canvas course to join the livestream and/or view its recording. You must also make sure you give them permissions to join the livestream and/or view the recording. See Quick Start Guide: Panopto for more information and step-by-step instructions on how to grant those permissions.

Who can download the class recording to their computer?

Nobody. Neither teachers nor students can download the recording per MIT Sloan policy. Recordings are available through streaming only. Faculty can request to download a recording in an extenuating circumstance. To make this request, the faculty member must complete the following:

  1. Download the Video Release Form. 
  2. Fill in the form.
  3. Submit the form to STS as a PDF attachment in the General Request Form.
  4. STS will review your request and respond within one week.