If you are teaching in a physical room, check what technology is available. Some rooms may have a Meeting OWL, Opencast, or other equipment that allows you to record audio and video in the room. Room details are available through the Learning Space Management (LSM) website or the college/department office managing the room.
Some audiovisual equipment options are provided below for those who would like to update their teaching equipment. If you are an Arts & Science instructor in need of financial assistance to help pay for the audiovisual equipment you plan to use for your teaching, you may want to consider speaking to your Chair or equivalent unit head about the Pedagogical Innovation and Experimentation (PIE) Fund. One of the eligible expenses listed on the PIE Fund page is "Purchasing/licensing of software, hardware or equipment to support initiatives."
The Logitech BrioLinks to an external site. provides outstanding video in HD and 4K resolutions, as it has a sharp picture and works in a variety of lighting conditions. It is more expensive (~$225) than the C922 above, but the difference in quality is noticeable. This model also works with the Logitech CaptureLinks to an external site. software (while the C922 does not), which allows you to adjust settings such as zoom, brightness, and colour temperature. This webcam also has a hole for a tripod mount.
The Logitech StreamCamLinks to an external site. (~$200) is a newer model designed for streaming in HD resolution at up to 60 fps (frames per second). It can also be rotated to shoot in portrait mode. It does not have a 4K resolution like the Brio but is also slightly cheaper.
The Meeting Owl ProLinks to an external site. has built-in speakers, microphone, and 360° camera and automatically shifts the camera focus to whomever is speaking in a room. This allows students online to see and hear everything that is happening in a room. The microphone has an 18-foot radius. In one A&S department that has used these, someone there said "the Meeting Owl is wonderful and I would highly recommend it for interactive courses and meetings with less than 20 participants. We think they will work well for our graduate seminar courses". They are relatively expensive (~$1,400) but might be suitable for a department or similar group.
Joby GorillaPodsLinks to an external site. come in various sizes (such as the GorillaPod 1KLinks to an external site. pictured here) and are very popular and of good quality. They can be used with a webcam to provide more placement options both at home and in the classroom. You can also mount a light or a microphone to them with the proper adapter. They come in a range of sizes, but the ones with a ball head (like the 1K) are very useful for making sure your camera is level, even on uneven surfaces.
It is important to have good lighting so your students can see you! If possible, face a window to provide natural light when recording yourself. If possible avoid times of day when the direct sun may cause dark shadows
One or more desk lamps can help light your face. Experiment with placing them in a way that they provide even lighting.