Lecture-manners

Lecture etiquette

At university, lectures are where the learning process starts, though certainly not ends. Here are some pointers as to what to expect.

At Heriot-Watt, lectures begin at 20 minutes past the hour and end at 10 minutes past the hour.
You should switch off your mobile phones.
You should not bring food or drink into a lecture theatre though you may bring water.
If you need to leave the lecture room for any reason, you may do so and you do not need to ask permission. But please leave quietly.
You should not engage in private conversations during a lecture: lectures are not social events though they are social. Disrupting a lecture is discourteous and unprofessional.
Please ask questions if you don't understand something. Just put your hand up. But remember: there's not just you in the lecture room. Think whether your question is of general interest (for example, maybe your lecturer has made a mistake) or whether it is really peculiar to you. If it is peculiar to you, then catch the lecturer at the end of the lecture (they usually hang around for a few minutes for exactly this reason).
In a lecture, both the lecturer and the students need to concentrate. You need to be listening attentively. I would add that the lecturer should be also paying attention to gauge if what they are saying is being received (at all).
If you use a laptop you should not use it during a lecture for any other purpose except to write notes. If you are listening to music or playing games why on earth bother turning up to a lecture just to be a nuisance? You are wasting your time and being discourteous to your neighbours.
If you miss a lecture it is your responsibility to catch up not the lecturer's.
If you arrive late, seat yourself as quietly and unobtrusively as possible.
Bring paper and pens with you.

On the issue of recording lectures, here is the official University position

University policy allows for students with specific learning difficulties to request permission to film lectures.
For further information, see Section 10 of the university policy statement.
Specifically, Section 10.1 Recording by Students with disabilities, states:

Students who find it impossible or difficult to take lecture notes (e.g. who have provided evidence of visual/hearing impairment, dyslexia, dysgraphia or mobility impairments) can ask the Disability Advisers to make arrangements with their lecturers in order to allow them to record lectures. Students needing to record oral lectures should note that the content of an oral lecture remains the property of the lecturer delivering it. When taping a lecture, the recording must only be used for the student's personal study. It must not be reproduced or passed on to anyone else, other than for transcription purposes. All students who make arrangements to record lectures will be asked to sign a declaration agreeing to these conditions of use which are set out in the University Guidance for staff and students on recording of oral lectures by students with specific learning needs. For more information, contact the Disability Advisers in the Student Support and Accommodation Service.

In addition, Section 11 of this document contains contact details of the University Data Protection Officer, and Appendix A contains a form that the lecturer should sign entitled: 'Consent for use of images, video and sound recordings containing personal data'.

Please be advised that

Any student who wishes to record a lecture must obtain permission for doing so before making a recording.
Students may not record lectures or seminars without the express written permission of their Lecturer.
Students may not share or publish any portion of a recording, this includes on the Internet and social networking sites. To do so is to breach the rights and trust of their lecturer and any other students captured in the recording.