Lecture-capturing systems allow users to videotape live classroom presentations that include audio and video of the instructor that is synchronized with whatever is being presented on the instructor’s computer, such as PowerPoint slides; live links to web resources; text, graphics and animations displayed in word-processing, spreadsheet, page-layout and simulation programs; as well as any Tablet PC notations. Typically the end result is an archived streaming video of the instructor’s talking head on one side of the screen, with the rest of the presentation materials displayed alongside the talking head. Viewers can, stop, pause, slow down, replay and search the streamed lecture at their convenience.

Based on interviews with users of these three lecture-capturing systems, we were given the strong impression that they are all reliable and of very high quality. Everyone was satisfied with the overall results, including technical support. All three vendors provide solutions that, once implemented, were easy to use and effectively encoded and archived, with instructors basically doing nothing more than clicking on a few buttons to get their lectures automatically captured and posted.

Lecture-capturing systems are being utilized in fully online and blended courses, as well as for enhancing face-to-face courses. They are also being utilized for training purposes in a wide variety of campus applications. The three systems presented in this issue are all robust and capable of large-scale usage.

Of course, as with any adoption of a sophisticated educational technology, prospective customers need to look hard and deep into what solution fits best within their budget and information/academic technology support environments. In particular, the pricing of these systems varies and can sometimes be complex, especially when trying to estimate adoption rates and scalability factors that will surely come into play.

We hope this issue of Educational Pathways will help get you started in the right direction if lecture capturing is on your institution’s or department’s clear horizon.

George Lorenzo
Editor and Publisher