JISC

Overview

The overall aim of the project is to develop and implement a university-wide automated lecture capture system which informs the university’s new build programme, enhances the current estate, increases active participation in lectures by linking them to CUOnline[1] and social software environments and makes lectures available for replay via a variety of mobile devices.

Aims and objectives

• Assess the affordances of automated lecture capture for our students, particularly those with English as their second language, work-based learners, studying at partner institutions and/or with disabilities.
• Assess the usability of captured lectures for students, particularly via mobile devices and in settings other than the university or home.
• Identify potential challenges and advantages for teaching staff when using a capture system that will influence academic staff development and support services.
• Identify strategies for overcoming staff resistance to having their lectures captured.
• Develop policies on IPR which promote lecture capture and align individual, group and institutional incentives.

Project methodology

During the first year we will conduct a faculty-level trial of the Echo360 automated lecture capture system in two faculties (BES and HLS)[2]. Within BES the trial will be conducted by capturing lectures on the MBA programme (among others).The MBA is studied by approximately 300 students (in 2007/08) of whom over 70% are non-white and 50% have a first language other than English. The programme has two starts each year and is semesterised. During the first semester we will seek informed volunteers to help test out issues. In the second semester we will capture all the lectures on core modules.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

Project document deliverables will include:

• work plan
• progress and risk assessment reports as required
• a final report
• website and blog
• staff training materials
• stakeholder requirements documentation
• change management strategy for implementing automated lecture capture
• interim and end of project evaluation reports
• policy documents for automated lecture capture use covering, inter alia, IPR, storage and related issues

ELTAC documentation will be developed collectively as a continuous process facilitated by use of a blog/wiki. This will include draft policy documents for consideration by appropriate university committees, user documentation, good practice guides and training materials (including Captivate tutorials, video-based material etc.). These outputs will be deposited in our institutional repository (CURVE) and be available to the sector as a whole where appropriate.

Technology / Standards used

• documented integrations between Echo360 and other university systems including CUOnline
• a prototype IPTV system for delivery of captured lecture material
• the development of alert/syndication tools
• campus-wide coverage and use of Echo360

[1] CUOnline is the name given to the university’s e-learning environment.

[2] Coventry University is organised into four faculties and these two, when combined, account for over half of the university’s students and teaching staff.