Osaka University harnesses the power of video for enhanced learning and teaching
by Alison Maloney
In 2022, Osaka University used EchoVideo to capture 14,587 videos, and 23,376 students of the University registered 804,455 hits on these videos. The University has long been a pioneer in the use of video technology to transform the learning and teaching experience.
Recognizing the potential of video in capturing lectures, Osaka University introduced lecture capture-ready classrooms on campus in 2008, growing the number significantly since then. In 2016, the implementation of Echo360’s cloud services relieved the University of the burden of maintaining on-premises servers while offering a seamless and secure learning experience. Through EchoVideo, Echo360 remains a leader for secure and reliable video creation and management.
Professor Haruo Takemura, Professor at the Cybermedia Center of Osaka University, has been a champion of Echo360 since it was an on-premise solution and remains a strong supporter of the cloud-based solution.
“Echo360 allows students to review lectures and delve deeper into course content, while also providing professors with valuable insights into their teaching methods.”
— Professor Haruo Takemura
Professor Haruo Takemura notes that Echo360’s additional features supporting recording and streaming of video content from a lecturer’s office or home, means that Osaka University is well prepared to support lecturers to teach under any circumstances, noting their success in the recent pandemic.
Echo360’s unique capabilities, such as dual stream recording and interactive features, with the ability to live stream classes, remains crucial for Osaka University, as it accommodates students unable to attend campus due to illness or other reasons. Echo360’s livestream window enables instructors to monitor attendance and engagement in real time.
Osaka University’s commitment to supporting students with special needs and those requiring a more private learning environment has further propelled the adoption of Echo360. A student’s ability to watch a recording in their own time, and to speed up and slow down the content to suit their learning needs is a feature that Osaka University promotes for students.
Takemura noted that during the pandemic when he was posting material for students to watch asynchronously that the students were not viewing the entire video, rather picking up important parts for study. He even sometimes encourages students to speed up the video where it is more efficient for them.
Takemura’s teaching colleague, Yu Urata, Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Center for Student Success and Practise, also recommends EchoVideo. As the focus has moved to support students both on-campus and online, Urata points out that EchoVideo’s flexibility can support instructors across a range of experience and expertise when using video with students.
When asked about Echo360’s Instructor analytics, Professor Takemura notes the ease with which you can view a student’s participation in a class, and also expresses interest in enhancing analytics functionality to gain deeper insights into student behaviour and learning patterns. By leveraging Echo360’s API and developing systems to extract and analyze data, he believes a more comprehensive understanding of student engagement can be achieved.
Reflecting on the evolution of video-based education, Takemura highlights Echo360’s focus on active learning features in EchoVideo as a distinguishing factor. The digital transformation in higher education, though in its preliminary stages, is progressing steadily in Japan.
“Osaka University’s proactive approach to leveraging video technology has bridged the gap with universities in Western countries, promoting flexible learning options for students and empowering faculty members.”