Won't lecture capture reduce attendance in class?

Numerous studies have looked into the link between lecture capture and attendance. Some, like Nordmann, Calder, Bishop, Irwin & Comber (2017), found “no evidence for a negative effect of recording use, or that attendance and recording use were related” while others such as Edwards & Clinton (2018), found that the “availability of lecture capture is associated with a drop in attendance”. It should be noted that the latter study was over a three-lecture setting, while the former was a four-year study.

What most studies agree on, however, is that:

• Attendance is key to high attainment – thus, reliance by students wholly on recorded lectures rather than attending live, is detrimental to grades. Students should still be encouraged to attend in order to gain the best learning experience at the university;
• There are far more benefits to be considered in lecture capture and (related topics such as blended learning) rather than the binary issue of attendance. Such as:
  
  • Far increased accessibility for those with hearing, vision and learning difficulties, as well as those with physical disabilities which may preclude them from classes.
  • Enhanced ability for students to revise the subject by review lectures later during term, or before exams.

References:

Nordmann, Emily & McGeorge, Peter. (2018). Lecture capture in higher education: time to learn from the learners.

Edwards, M.R. & Clinton, M.E. High Educ (2018). A study exploring the impact of lecture capture availability and lecture capture usage on student attendance and attainment.

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