Starting this fall, online and hybrid classes at Baruch College may mandate students to turn on their cameras during class time. Nevertheless, such a policy should remain optional for students taking online and hybrid classes.
“Faculty may require students to turn on their cameras in online and hybrid courses during class periods or for remote testing purposes,” Baruch stated in an email on Aug. 26. This policy comes alongside other announcements regarding academic information and reminders.
The policy states that faculty who wish to enforce this new rule must clearly address the requirement in the syllabus and announce it on their first day of classes. However, when an in-person lecture is conducted online instead, students will not be required to turn on their cameras unless it is stated in the syllabus.
The new camera policy does little to address student participation as intended and the presence of cameras does not prevent students from losing focus during lectures. A study from Faculty Focus found that students are often self-conscious of their physical surroundings and mental health, as well as their appearance when their cameras are required to be on. Such thoughts do not promote learning and engagement, but instead act as a distraction for the student.
Mandatory camera usage also fails to credit students who do participate when the camera is off. In these instances, students’ attendance should be based upon participation, where their engagement and collaboration can be better gauged. Methods of engagement such as questions, polls and group work can ensure a student’s participation in the lectures.
Despite all this, one could see that the policy may act as a preventative measure towards cheating during exams. The use of cameras may discourage methods of cheating that include the usage of other devices or paying others to complete the test. Although this does not prevent all methods of cheating, it could reduce or catch those students when used in tandem with other preventative measures.
Regardless, it is best if the use of cameras during lectures remains optional because it leaves students more comfortable and in an environment that supports their learning.