Recording device for lectures

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What do you recommend I use to record lectures? Not keen on using my phone, would prefer something to use for only lectures. Not too expensive but good quality

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I don't have a recommendation, but wanted to give you a heads up to make sure recording is allowed before spending money on a recording device. Not all instructors allow it, mine did not.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

IF you are given permission to record (unlikely) Office Depot has hand held voice recorders for under $50. But honestly, the best way to 'record' lectures is to take notes by hand. I just read a study that linked substantially improved student performance to hand-written lecture notes.

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Look into the Livescribe Smartpen system. The pen records the lecture at the same time you are writing your notes on a special notepad. The written notes are linked to the recording so you can go back to your notes while you are listening. You can add to your notes on listen-back but your additional notes will not link to the original recorded note. The system now uses a wifi enabled pen. I don't know how good that is, but I used the previous version (non wifi) and felt it was well worth the modest initial outlay.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
IF you are given permission to record (unlikely) Office Depot has hand held voice recorders for under $50. But honestly, the best way to 'record' lectures is to take notes by hand. I just read a study that linked substantially improved student performance to hand-written lecture notes.

Years ago before my nursing days, I took a music history class from a prof who packed an EXTREMR amount of info into each lecture. A lot of that included in-depth analysis of pieces' form... often times analyzing by ear.

I used my lecture recordings not as a substitute for note-taking, but to be able to go back later and add what I missed to my notes. There would invariably be some detail that I missed, because the woman went so fast and deep.

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But unfortunately, in nursing school, it's very common to not be allowed to record, just because... Regardless of school policy.

Nursing school is about 50% learning how to be a nurse, and 99% image. Seriously, if you're working as a bartender and your teacher overhears you at work telling someone you're a nursing student at that school, expect to be kicked out of the program, because they don't want to be associated with anyone that has anything to do with a bar. With this reality, don't expect to be allowed to record lectures.

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I would recommend looking on amazon for a recorder - I currently use this:

Amazon.com: Sony ICDUX56

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Specializes in Critical care.
IF you are given permission to record (unlikely) Office Depot has hand held voice recorders for under $50. But honestly, the best way to 'record' lectures is to take notes by hand. I just read a study that linked substantially improved student performance to hand-written lecture notes.

I recorded in school- pretty much every professor gave permission- and would go back and relisten to segments if I missed something. I'd make a note of the time during the recording so I could find the section easily. This alllowed me to focus on what my professor was saying and avoid being distracted trying to figure out what I missed and didn't get written down.

OP- it's been over 5 years since I bought mine, but I got a recorded from Sony that was under $50 and worked very well. Classmates commented that my recordings with it were better than their recordings with their phones. It held up well and was easy for me to use. Good luck!

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Well this topic sure did catch my attention.

I am pro recording lectures. Which I fervently did while I was in nursing school. Most of us did and the instructors were letting us, except for one. (as far as I know, this same instructor who was not allowing us to record her lecture, was no longer with the school I went to the following semester.)

Anyhow, the benefit for me was, I was able to listen to the lectures while I was driving or wherever I go. I was able to pick-up clues as to what's important and what may show up on our exam. Again, that was just me! The instructors were not spoon-feeding us. But I was able to decipher their teaching styles and I passed my nursing school with flying colors.

BTW, it was so long ago, I still was using a mini cassette version. LOL

I'm sure the younger generations wouldn't even know what that is!

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BTW, it was so long ago, I still was using a mini cassette version. LOL

I'm sure the younger generations wouldn't even know what that is!

They're actually still around, and pretty common because of picking up less background sound than most digital recorders.

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They're actually still around, and pretty common because of picking up less background sound than most digital recorders.

But very, very hard to find and the cassette tapes are just as hard to find. Some time back looked for one and could only find digital recorders. The only one listed online was priced to not sell.

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What would be the arguments against allowing recording?

News to me. it used to be you could glance across a large university lecture hall and see practically every other seat/table with a recording device. The professors couldn't have cared less. Is there something particularly wrong about wanting to review things you might not have caught in real time? Weird; that used to be exactly what the go-getters did.

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