Instructors naturally want to help their learners however they can, and modern technology is opening up bold new possibilities on that front. Lecture capture allows instructors to easily transform lectures into videos that learners can rewatch, rewind, and fast-forward, enhancing the learning process. Instructors can also add content such as multimedia elements to each video to make the material more interactive than it originally was in the classroom. The result is a powerful classroom tool that’s great for learners who missed a lecture, those with learning differences, and anybody who’s struggled to absorb all of the information presented during a lecture.
Naturally, your organization’s lecture recordings will only be as good as the software you use to capture them. An average capture solution will allow you to record video but may place limitations on your ability to do so. For instance, you might only be able to record in places with Wi-Fi access. A subpar capture system may also lack simple yet powerful editing tools, meaning that the raw video you is about the only thing you can offer learners unless you’re an editing whiz. You may not get much for customer support either.
That’s why the educational experts at Echo360 take lecture capture to the next level with EchoVideo: A video content management platform designed to create a holistic learning engagement experience. We believe that EchoVideo is the best lecture capture software available today, and it only becomes better when combined with other Echosystem products like EchoExam and PointSolutions. Learn more about the capabilities of our software and how technology is revolutionizing the teaching process!
Lecture capture provides many benefits to learners in a variety of circumstances. First, it may prove helpful to define what lecture capture is. Lecture capture is an umbrella term describing any technology that allows instructors to record what happens in the classroom and make it available digitally.
Even basic recordings provide benefits to learners. The typical classroom environment features lectures that could be described as information dumps, forcing learners to scramble to keep up with their note-taking. If they know that they can revisit the content later on, they may feel less pressure to take notes and more able to focus on the content, thereby developing a deeper understanding of the content.
With Echo360’s lecture capture software, educators and IT administrators can transform teaching practices, enhance learning experiences, and create valuable study resources. Here’s how:
Lectures can often feel overwhelming, with students scrambling to take notes while digesting complex information. With lecture capture software, students can revisit recorded content at their own pace. This reduces the pressure to take extensive notes during class, allowing learners to concentrate and develop a deeper understanding of the material.
Life happens! Whether due to illness, travel, or unforeseen circumstances, students sometimes miss classes. With lecture capture software, they don’t have to miss valuable course material. Instead of relying on classmates for notes, students can watch recorded sessions as though they attended in person, ensuring they’re up to date on every aspect of the curriculum.
Additionally, features like time-synced digital notes allow students to align their own annotations with the recorded lecture, providing the context they need for effective review.
Not every student feels comfortable raising their hand during class to clarify doubts. Lecture capture provides an alternative. Students can independently review recordings to better grasp concepts before seeking further help. This encourages self-confidence, critical analysis, and independent study skills while granting instructors more time to focus on providing tailored support for those who need it most.
Education should be inclusive, and lecture capture software contributes to accessibility. For example, recorded lectures can be paired with subtitles to aid students with hearing impairments. Additionally, students with different learning styles can revisit the material in ways that help them succeed.
The capabilities of lecture capture software vary depending on the platform you use. Echo360 goes beyond basic recording capabilities, offering features like:
These features make it clear why Echo360’s tools remain a top choice for higher education institutions across the globe.
For instructors, lecture capture software is a game changer. Instead of constantly re-explaining concepts to different students, recorded lectures can serve as a reference point. Educators can focus their time and energy on preparing impactful course material and engaging students during live sessions.
IT administrators seeking scalable solutions for managing educational technology will appreciate the ease of implementing comprehensive platforms like Echo360. Secure cloud storage and user-friendly interfaces simplify usage and reduce operational workloads while delivering cutting-edge technology.
Easy recording is a top priority when it comes to in-classroom lecture capture functionality, but a great system can offer so much more than that. Below, we’ve highlighted eight features you should look for:
Nothing feels worse than thinking you’ve captured a fantastic video only to discover that your camera malfunctioned in the middle of your lecture. EchoVideo hardware is up to 10 times more reliable than a personal computer with traditional capture software, so technology snafus are rare. You can choose from rack-mountable and tabletop hardware options, both of which are easy to deploy and use.
Should something go awry, EchoVideo supports smart input fallback. That means that if a camera goes down in the middle of recording, our software automatically switches to another camera so you don’t lose anything. For example, you’ll automatically switch to your classroom camera if your webcam goes down. Furthermore, EchoVideo’s Universal Capture functionality helps you troubleshoot any issues in real time without distracting learners. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
If your organization has remote learners or a blend of online and in-person instruction, you’ll appreciate EchoVideo’s live lecture capture capabilities. Lectures can be broadcast live on your site, with all video presentations, discussions, and polling available to learners no matter where they are. Your lecture will be added to your library of on-demand recordings when you’re finished, providing the same level of flexibility your learners get from lecture capture in the classroom.
EchoVideo also offers adaptive bitrate HLS: The easiest, most reliable way to facilitate ad hoc live streaming in HD using any recording device. You can schedule recordings in advance if you want to, but it’s nice to know that you don’t have to. Live streaming has never been easier.
If you capture a lecture using some software solutions, you might not be able to edit the resulting video much or at all. Alternatively, editing may require complicated tools that only professional editors are likely to get anything out of. Either way, your learners won’t receive the content they deserve.
EchoVideo turns this paradigm on its head with editing capabilities you can use regardless of your abilities. You’ll have a straightforward visual timeline of your video, allowing you to insert content wherever it makes sense, directly in your browser. For example, you could embed a separate video during a recording to provide more detail on the topic discussed or splice an infographic over your video while recorded audio continues to play. These easy editing features help EchoVideo stand out in the lecture capture space.
Better yet, all of these editing capabilities are accessible in your video library for maximum convenience. Any changes you make will be saved automatically, with affected video updating without any further effort on your part. With editing capabilities like this, recording lectures is only the beginning of what you can do to increase engagement.
Instruction doesn’t just take place in the classroom any longer. Learners increasingly expect to be able to access content on their mobile devices at any time, meaning that any video created through lecture capture has to look great on mobile.
Fortunately, EchoVideo is up to the task. The included video player is responsive, automatically adjusting the screen size and features used based on the device accessing it, ensuring that all learners receive a great experience. Users can toggle between video feeds and respond to activities such as poll questions. If a learner wants to review management initiatives during lunch or complete compliance training during the ride home from work, EchoVideo makes it possible.
At Echo360, we believe that instructors should be able to capture a video whenever inspiration strikes them. Instructors aren’t always connected to the internet, however, which means that a great lecture capture tool needs some kind of offline mode. EchoVideo’s is called remote recording and it allows instructors to record content at any time, anywhere, whether there’s an internet connection or not. The video will be published as soon as an internet connection is established, with frequent upload indicators to keep you abreast of its progress.
Alternatively, you can use remote recording to hold a video until you’re ready to publish it. Perhaps you want to save it to your video library first, or maybe you want to add some pizzazz with the editing tool before learners see it. The power is in your hands.
There are many different learning styles, and lectures aren’t always the best fit for learners. EchoVideo addresses this through Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology that creates transcriptions of video content that can be made available to students.
If that isn’t enough, EchoVideo can transform those transcripts into compliant captions with one of many different captioning services. We make video more accessible to everyone.
Speaking of compliance, EchoVideo meets or exceeds all WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 guidelines, ensuring accessibility for learners with learning differences, disabilities, or sensory impairments. EchoVideo is the best way to ensure that all learners can access the content they need.
Most instructors have educational materials they trust, and adding lecture capture capabilities shouldn’t change that. Luckily, EchoVideo integrates with many other services so they can continue using them. For instance, integration with cloud-based services such as Dropbox and Google Drive makes it easy to ingest your favorite videos and add them to your video library. Similarly, EchoVideo offers seamless integration with services like OneDrive and Microsoft Teams to enhance lectures. You can even import content into your learning management system (LMS) or learning experience platform (LXP) of choice for easy viewing.
If EchoVideo doesn’t natively integrate with something you want to use, no problem. With robust xAPI (application programming interface) capabilities, you can connect with nearly any system you can think of. EchoVideo also boasts learning tools interoperability configurations for many systems, helping instructors move seamlessly from one tool to another with minimal effort. The result is an integrated ecosystem dedicated to educational progress.
Naturally, EchoVideo can be combined with other Echosystem solutions as well. For instance, Knowbly is a course creation tool that makes good use of EchoVideo’s video management features to enhance courses. PointSolutions is polling software allowing learners to respond to questions embedded in videos. EchoEngage helps instructors and admins manage all of their videos. Each is a powerful tool independently, but they’re truly special when you combine their capabilities.
Lecture capture technology is one thing, but how do instructors know whether their learners are taking full advantage of the content? EchoVideo tracks metrics for all media, including viewing and engagement data, total video views, poll responses, and individual performance on quizzes. This information is available directly within EchoVideo or for export to an LMS. Configurable analytics are adaptable to any instructional method or class type as well.
Admins also get a suite of analytics with EchoVideo. They can see cloud platforms and in-person capture components for a complete view of their environment. Proactive alerts highlight any potential issues with the recording schedule before it becomes a problem, and there is no limit to how much content can be stored in the cloud.
Lecture capture is rapidly becoming an essential teaching tool for university professors and enterprise organizations. It gives learners more control over how they access content, streamlines the review process, and demonstrates that instructors want to see them succeed. Lecture capture also helps many instructors make video content, especially if they aren’t proficient in technology.
The trick is finding a lecture capture tool combining the video production capabilities you need with the other features you want, and EchoVideo is an ideal choice. You can effortlessly edit content in your video library, create recordings online or off, transcribe video content easily, and more. Echo360 provides outstanding customer support as well, so help is available whenever you need it.
If you would like to learn more about EchoVideo or the rest of the Echosystem, we encourage you to request more information today. There is no better way to discover how technology could revolutionize your classroom.
