What’s the verdict

I feel awkward having my camera on, people can see me.

Student  – Natalie

I only turn [cameras] on when we are answering a question and kind of engaging with other students

Student – Tab

It can feel a bit strange, but I’ve sort of got used to it. Now, the other thing I’ve noticed is that when students are really engaged, the chat goes wild. So that’s another way of finding out, OK, are people keeping up with the concept?

Teacher – Jenny Underwood

Cameras off. Most of the time I just look tired, like my room is dark and it just doesn’t look right.  

Student – Richie

Definitely off. I kind of just follow what other people do and I normally just sit in my bed.

Student – Zach

So when you’re on behind the screen, especially with practical subjects, you don’t have that intimacy. So you can’t actually really respond to the nuances of the learning and what activity they’re engaged with.

Teacher – Gareth Kershaw

I do prefer cameras off, I do feel a level of self- consciousness with the camera on, that I feel removes me from the engagement of the class. Where I might be more focused on how I appear to be engaged or how I look on camera as well.

Student – Gemma

With online learning I typically have my camera off.  I think that is because a of a semi culture has developed around online classes and its almost become etiquette that the teacher has their camera on, and the students have their cameras off and typically respond through the chat.

Student – Issac

I think it can impact my teaching just in a way that sometimes it can feel like I am talking to myself which you know it sometimes it does feel a little bit strange.

Teacher – Adele Varcoe

When the teacher needs to see me, I will turn it on, but then I turn it off. It really depends if everyone has it on.  

Student – Rebecca

It’s really critical for me to be able to engage in that conversation with them, which is often in their bedroom or maybe in their lounge room with their Mum or Dad in the background or the cat walking across the fabric. It’s really important for me to see what they are doing and to get that conversation going. 

Teacher – Deborah Wills-Ives

I tend to be cameras off, if it is a seminar though, like a small group I’ll be cameras on because then we want to replicate that discussion F2F that we haven’t been able to have.  

Student – Paul

I like to have my camera off. I just like my privacy and I feel like it is unnecessary for people to look at me when I am online.  

Student – William

I usually have my camera off. Usually, I don’t make myself look presentable when I am at home, I just don’t put the effort in.  

Student – Arianna

I would like to turn it on, but I think it distracts from the main teacher.  

Student – Tarik

We have one lecture that is online and that consists of 150 students so definitely cameras off and usually it is a PowerPoint presentation, either live of pre-recorded.  Our tutorial class is online and that has 18 students and I find it a little bit tricky that some cameras are on, and some are off.   

Student – Saraid

Cameras on…makes for a more dynamic class, more of a community within the class and I can also have their laptops angled so I can see what they are working on and I am not talking to a wall of nothing.    Teacher – Georgia Janetzki

It’s a bit awkward to have my camera on as not much of my class have it on. A bit awkward having the camera on if I am the only one.  

Student – Matthew

When you’re having a discussion, it would be great if students can have their cameras on. It just gives that extra bit of interaction; you can see their faces and their responses are that much better.  

Teacher – Rashmita Bardalai

I definitely prefer having my camera off. I just have a lot of stuff going on around the house that I prefer teachers and students not to see. 

Student – Jordan 

I would also prefer if the teachers made it mandatory for students to keep their cameras on just because it keeps me from falling asleep and it feels like we are in class again.  

Student – Carmen

With cameras off you don’t quite get the feedback that you normally would. There are a lot little facial features and body language cues that experienced teachers rely on…when moving online suddenly I don’t have access to all those cues and all that kind of feedback. 

Teacher – Dan Jazby