Lecture Capture Pilot

The Penn State lecture capture initiative recently began the first semester of a year-long pilot to evaluate the efficacy of this technology for teaching and learning. The system we are currently piloting is Echo360, and it is now installed in 10 Sparks, 102 Forum, and Pond 123 and is primarily being used by large enrollment courses. Echo360 essentially automates the process of audio/video capture and publishing, making the recording of lectures or supplementary materials extremely easy. Courses that are being captured include ECON 102, BIOL 110, COMM100, ART H 111, and PSYCH 100. The faculty pilot participants are using lecture capture in a variety of ways with their students, such as a means of review for exams, to simplify the process of publishing supplementary content, to augment distance education courses, and even for faculty development.

We’re currently taking a triangulated approach to assessment with both faculty and students (similar to what was done for the LMS evaluation), and I will share what we learn this semester and in the Spring. I’d also like to share some of the captures (we have over 100 now) as soon as I secure permission from faculty. Some of what I’ve seen is quite good.

You can find out more at the pilot site at: http://capture.psu.edu.

I have also organized a cross-university working group which has conducted a systematic review of relevant literature, a process that has informed much of the resources we’re working on as well as the design support we provide. We’ll be publishing a meta-analysis at some point as well. So if you’re interested in any of the theoretical underpinnings of any of this, I can provide that.