Thread by @CatrionaRegina

Getting students to turn their cameras on: a thread.

I'm not the most experienced uni teacher, but I've been thinking about this recently during teaching training and wanted to share some tips from what I've figured out & what's worked for me /1

#phdchat #ecrchat #teaching

First: to explain why the tips work, I want to cover some common reasons I've gleaned from talking to students & observing behaviour. The most important thing to note here is that, mostly, IT'S NOT DONE IN BAD FAITH. This doesn't have to be a battle with students! /2

1) Many students are unclear/anxious about what is 'appropriate' for dress and background. Many do not have access to private spaces other than their bedrooms, or only have access to their bedrooms. They are worried it is inappropriate to have visible:
-bed
-mess
-housemates
/3

-etc.
2) b/c of this, many do not have a stable desk to put device & camera at steady eye level. They worry upwards/shaking shots are distracting or inappropriate.

3) Many others have caring responsibilities (young children, disabled family) that don't disappear for zoom. /4

Many teaching staff (understandably) hold themselves to a higher standard of visual professionalism than their students, and have better means to achieve those standards - but they don't tell their students that. /5

Students look at you in your blazer in your office in front of your bookshelves with your cute discipline-themed mug and ask - is this that what's expected of me? /6

4) Due to time zones, many international students attend uni seminars v late or early, so they call in from bed. At 1am, can you blame them? But don't want to be seen as unprofessional/lazy. They also lessen engagement to avoid disturbing sleeping household. /7

5) They're self-conscious about being seen/recorded while listening in their private home space. This isn't vanity, this is a legitimate privacy concern. Tiktok is full of illicit recordings from university lectures. See: /8

6) Many students, particularly disabled students and students who feel underprepared, worry they're more likely to be 'picked on' if their cameras are on - especially when peers' aren't. It's not abt not having something to say, but not wanting to speak in front of everyone /9

7) This stuff is new, & not like their experience of education before. They don't know what the etiquette is. They follow their peers, especially if not told otherwise. If some turn off, others follow. /10

8) Like w/ many teaching techniques, they don't know or understand why having cameras on benefits you or them. They don't know that it gives you essential feedback, or makes them feel more engaged.

SO TIPS: /11

A) Show and tell them cameras help!

'I see a lot of nodding heads'
'I can see you're thinking - would you like a minute for that?'
'Can I get a thumbs up/down/sideways on that last point?'
'Can everyone do the expression they think Mr Pickwick has on face for this scene?' /12

B) At start of first/every class, explicitly set your expectations for them. I tell them cameras on, and that I don't care about their dress, angle or background, so long as there's nothing offensive in shot & they mute themselves for disruptive sound. /13

C) I tell them that it's totally fine if other people enter the shot (e.g. housemates/children in background) - so long as they focus as much as poss. I tell them they don't have to turn off cameras to leave shot when necessary for doorbell, bathroom, etc. /14

D) I give them a few minutes break every hour, to give them time to do these things without missing anything.

E) while waiting for class to start I compliment students on their clothes & backgrounds & talk about things in mine. Shows them I mean what I say - it's so fine! /15

F) General recommendation to universities - schedule seminars factoring in students' time zones where possible! I understand this is a difficult task. To teachers - ask students in difficult time zones what helps them to engage. /16

Last term, I incorporated text chat and interactive drag-drop powerpoint slide activities into seminars more, to help students who had to be quiet for a sleeping household to have opportunities to engage /17

G) For depts/university admin: Consider sending mass email/website guidance to students about what is appropriate for camera shot in seminars. You may have not because you want to be relaxed and show discretion, but your students don't know that! /18

H) Tell students what your policy for inviting students to speak is. Tell them camera on/off won't affect this. Maybe even tell them it's fine to not want to speak on a difficult day, and still have camera on. /19

I) Tell students ur policy on recording/screenshots. Ask ur dept/uni about policy on students recording/screenshotting in seminars without permission. Understand how ur software impedes illicit recording. /20

H) If you don't have great WiFi, use an ethernet cable when you teach!!!!! Honestly, made a massive difference for me. Forgot to add earlier, but sometimes students turn cam off because you aren't coming through clearly & they want to reduce pressure on WiFi. /21

I hope this was helpful for someone. I know we are all learning this stuff together, and I wanted to share this because I've benefitted so much from others' COVID teaching tips and reflections on here!

That being said, please tell me - what's worked for you? /22