Graduate students balance school and life with online lectures

(Tamaqua, Pa.  – August 21, 2008 ) - Students from Tamaqua Area School District could be doing more than playing video games or surfing the Internet on their computers in the coming year. Starting in the fall, the district will offer online access to classroom content and supplemental materials on computers and wireless laptops with the introduction of lecture capture from Echo³⁶⁰.

Located in the coal regions of northeastern Pennsylvania, Tamaqua Area may seem to be an unlikely candidate to lead the state in the adoption of lecture capture – a technology once reserved for colleges and universities. But as the study habits of K12 students have been adapted to include computers and the Internet, Tamaqua’s innovative faculty and staff searched for technologies that reached their student population on their terms.

“Our high-school students were born in the 1990’s.  They have iPods, laptop computers, interactive cell phones and every device imaginable,” says Ray Kinder, assistant superintendent of the Tamaqua Area School District.  “If we tell them to go home and review a chapter in a book, many will do it.  But if we tell them to interact and review their courses in a dynamic environment with the Echo³⁶⁰ replays, we do a better job of inspiring the student to engage in learning.”

The response has been so positive that Tamaqua faculty and administrators are looking for more ways to integrate lecture capture into their curriculum.  “Within hours of introducing Echo³⁶⁰, 50% of the faculty members volunteered to add lecture capture to their classroom tool kit,” Kinder continued. “We take instruction very seriously and our teachers are creative, educational leaders. Echo³⁶⁰ gives us the platform to create content to prepare our students for what’s next – whether a state exam, a complex equation, the SAT’s, honors classes or postsecondary education.”

“Lecture capture – already prevalent in higher education – is rapidly becoming a go-to technology for K12 districts because of its ability to reach students on their preferred platforms in a manner that suits the individual’s learning style,” said Fred Singer, CEO of Echo³⁶⁰. “On-demand is the expectation, not the exception, for the millennial generation.”

The EchoSystem lecture capture platform was selected by Tamaqua for its ease of use, thanks in large part to the EchoSystem capture appliance.  With only three technology staff supporting the entire district of 2,200 students, a solution requiring manual operation or extended set up time simply wasn’t an option. “It is rare that a technology allows you to increase your level of service without becoming a time burden,” said Ken Dunkelberger, director of technology for the Tamaqua Area School District.  “Outside of the classroom, we’ve saved countless hours with reusable, web-based modules on school district initiatives for parents along with policy and systems training for faculty.  Our innovative faculty plus the EchoSystem technology translates into boundless opportunities for our district.”

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About Tamaqua Area Schools

Located in the coal regions of northeastern Pennsylvania, Tamaqua Area School District is a comprehensive learning facility serving the educational needs of over 2200 students in grades K-12. Our professional staff is committed to educational excellence providing the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to "compete in an ever changing global community." Our support staff is dedicated to the same goals and objectives of providing the best possible education for our students. The community takes great pride in our schools and through its financial support provides opportunities for all students to experience success and to prepare for the future. Visit the website at www.tamaqua.k12.pa.us.

About Echo³⁶⁰

Echo³⁶⁰ envisions an opportunity for every student to be freed from traditional barriers to learning with an on-demand education experience.  Full-time, part-time, distance, continuing, and online all describe today’s student living in a 24/7 world.  On-demand media and education converge at the newly-formed  Echo³⁶⁰, helping colleges and universities engage students on the students’ terms with full and unbounded access to classroom-based content via multiplatform replay.  Developed in partnership with the University of Western Australia, Echo³⁶⁰ means scalable and affordable lecture capture solutions that can provide institutions of all sizes with universal availability of lecture content. For more information, log on to www.echo360.com.