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Online teaching FAQ
B. Technological Questions
1. What do you mean by streaming technology?
2. Is there technology currently available that would prevent students from further disseminating the materials? If so, what is it? If not, then how do you prevent it?
3. Regarding retention: a student can retain anything with a tape recorder and a video camera. Are these beyond the ‘reasonably prevent' requirement?
4. There are readily available means to capture an audio stream. It is more difficult to capture a video stream, but we can assume that ‘stream-catching' software will become increasingly available. Is the institution responsible for continuously responding to these developments in the open market?
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B.1. What do you mean by streaming technology?
Streaming media refers to the transmission of digital audio and video files over an IP network, in real time or on-demand, while prohibiting users from storing the files locally. RealNetworks, Microsoft, and Apple all have streaming options.
2. Is there technology currently available that would prevent students from further disseminating the materials? If so, what is it? If not, then how do you prevent it?
The statute only requires “technological measures that reasonably prevent” students from retaining the material beyond the class session and disseminating it. This suggests that streaming software would be adequate for downstream control of video and audio material. For text and still images, consult your computing staff for the most reasonable method they can implement. It may involve one or more methods, such as disabling the user's right click function in connection with the transmission, or imposing a transparent image over the material (so attempts to copy or save only capture the transparent image, not the underlying content), or imposing a digital watermark to make it easier to trace violations. NC State University has developed a solution that should satisfy downstream protection of materials displayed. The critical point is that technology will evolve, so you must regularly assess whether new and better downstream controls are feasible.
3. Regarding retention: a student can retain anything with a tape recorder and a video camera. Are these beyond the ‘reasonably prevent' requirement?
These are beyond the “reasonably prevent” requirement. You cannot deliver technological protections through the Internet that will deter such practices.
4. There are readily available means to capture an audio stream. It is more difficult to capture a video stream, but we can assume that ‘stream-catching' software will become increasingly available. Is the institution responsible for continuously responding to these developments in the open market?
Yes. And that's true for all downstream controls. Today's “reasonable” technology will be obsolete at some point in the future, and new controls will be expected for legal compliance.
A. Institutional Level Questions | B. Technological Questions | C. Faculty/Content Questions