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Service catalogue

Our Service Catalogue is a list of services provided by IT Services to members of the University of Sussex and certain categories of visitors.

Each service within the catalogue typically includes a brief description of the service and how to access it, who is entitled to use/request the service, details of availability and service maintenance, and links to further information. This is intended to help improve knowledge within the University of the range of services we currently provide and to help users get more out of them. The range of services offered is reviewed annually with the University IT Consultative Group.

Lecture Recording (Panopto)

Service ID

20

Summary

Provides facilities to record lectures or events within enabled spaces. Recordings include audio, projected material (e.g. PowerPoint slides) and, optionally, video feeds. Recordings are processed into media files and made available via the University’s online learning platform for incorporation into teaching materials.

Permitted users

  1. Members of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ;
  2. Attendees at conferences and similar events being held at the University, where the use of computers comprises part of the event. 

Gaining access

  1. In order to create a recording, the user must be able to authenticate with an IT username and password.
  2. In order to add a recording to a site within the online learning platform, the user must be a tutor on that site.
  3. Attendees at conferences and similar events without full student enrolment may be issued with access details by conference organisers to enable them to make use of the facilities. 

Hours of operation

24/7

Supported period

0900-1730 normal working days.

Scheduled maintenance

One working day’s notice will be given where work affects a single geographic location of the service. Three working days’ notice will be given of any scheduled maintenance affecting all facilities.

Change control

All changes to the service will be tested prior to release. Changes will be undertaken outside of term and conference schedules, other than in exceptional circumstances.  Notice will be provided via the customary IT Services channels.

ITS Responsibilities

  1. To maintain, clean, upgrade and repair the hardware comprising this service in the enabled lecture theatres.
  2. To manage the technical infrastructure (servers, software, etc.) required to transcode, store and serve the recordings.

Service user responsibilities

  1. To ensure an audience is made aware when being recorded;
  2. To observe copyright regulations: .
  3. To consult user guides available from IT Services and TLDU (see below).

Service dependencies

Data Network (#1); Managed Filestore (#2); Online Learning Platform (#16); Audio Visual for Teaching (#19)

Detailed service description

The Lecture Capture service allows events taking place in enabled spaces to be recorded:

  • as a study aid, allowing students to review lectures to improve their understanding of the material;
  • to provide an online-only service (for students who are not able to attend in person due to timetabling constraints, illness, personal responsibilities or where an online model of delivery is being used.

Lecture capture-enabled rooms typically have a built-in microphone and/or lapel mics available. A fixed-position camera at the back of the room allows a low-resolution video of the lecturer to be recorded, where desired.

In theatres enabled for full lecture capture, all projected data are captured. In addition to content from the lecturer’s PC, documents/objects displayed via the document camera, or DVD/ Blu-Ray clips are also recorded and synchronised automatically with the audio and video stream.

Recordings are processed into suitable formats for viewing on modern web browsers and mobile devices. Recordings can be viewed via a streaming service within a media player, with navigation via thumbnail images generated automatically during the video processing.  Alternatively, files can be downloaded for offline viewing, or viewing via a mobile device. 

Each recording may be added to more than one teaching site within the online learning platform.

The facilities may also be used by Conference Services, as outlined above.  When used for external conferences:

  1.  the organiser is responsible for ensuring that participants have consented to the recording and distribution of their lecture.
  2. Conference Services are responsible for downloading the required files and providing them to the conference organiser for distribution to participants.

 

Links to ITS documentation

Definitions

Normal working days
These are defined for all ITS services as Monday – Friday inclusive, but excluding Bank Holidays and University Minimum Service Days.
Scheduled Maintenance
IT username and password
These are the login credentials, issued by IT Services to registered students and current staff of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ, enabling access to email, workstations and other services requiring authentication.

New and changed services

Information about changes to services including any scheduled maintenance, are posted on the IT Services website and distributed by the IT Services Facebook, Twitter and RSS feed. Current service status traffic light information is also displayed on the IT Services website.

If the service you are enquiring about is not described below, please get in touch.

User responsibilities

All service users are expected to abide by the rules and regulations described in Regulations for the use of Information and Communication Technology and to report faults, as they arise, to IT Services.

Updated on 17 October 2013