Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren't lectures for my class available on this site?

We currently have the ability to record lectures in five auditoriums, all in Welch Hall: WEL 1.308, WEL 1.316, WEL 2.224, WEL 2.246, and WEL 3.502.  We only record lectures with the knowledge and consent of the faculty member. Some faculty have chosen not to use this service because they feel it is not appropriate for their style of teaching.

When do lectures become available for viewing and how long will they be available?

The day's lectures are automatically placed on this site during the night. The lectures will be available through the last day of final exams for that semester unless your instructor requests otherwise.

Where do I get help using this service?

We do not currently run a help desk for this service. This web site is intended to provided everything needed to view the recorded lectures. Your fellow students, your TAs, and your instructor may be able to answer certain questions about this service.  The Troubleshooting page attempts to provide solutions to the most commonly encountered problems.

What limits the quality of the recordings?

These recorded lectures cannot compare in quality with programs you see on television. The lighting in our classrooms is not as good as that in a television studio. Our camera is controlled by a computer, which cannot make decisions as sophisticated as a person would make. And, we do no post-production of the recordings; there is no editing and there are no second takes.

Why can't I watch the classes live?

The technology certainly exists to stream video in real time. Most faculty feel that attending class and interacting with the instructor and the other students is an important part of the educational experience. We provide these recorded lectures not as a substitute for attending class but as an after-class review and study aid.

Who runs this service and who pays for it?

This service is provided by the College of Natural Sciences Dean's Office, specifically the Technology Classroom Team in the Office of the Associate Dean for Information Technology. The recording system, the servers, and the staff are all funded by Information Technology fees paid by students at The University of Texas at Austin. This system was designed and implemented by Dr. Kurt Bartelmehs.