The University of Leeds is investing over £2m to set up a state-of-the-art lecture capture and multimedia management system.
By capturing video and audio recordings of lectures and other teaching activities, the new technology will provide students with a flexible and personalised approach to learning, enabling them to revisit and review content throughout their course.
All the recordings, along with additional learning resources, will be published in the University’s secure virtual learning environment (VLE).
Starting from September 2014, around 50,000 hours of timetabled teaching activity will be recorded and published in the VLE each year.
Staff and students can also create, edit and share new content on internal digital channels, including a new campus YouTube, which will be accessible from desktop and mobile devices. Selected content will also be showcased on the University’s YouTube and iTunes U channels, offering free access to world-class learning resources.
Professor Neil Morris, Director of Digital Learning at the University of Leeds, said: “This is a significant investment which will transform teaching and learning here at Leeds. Not only can we capture all our audio and video assets, but this new platform will allow us to store, manage and publish content across multiple channels. We are unique in having a digital strategy that encompasses all of these elements.
“We know our students learn in different ways, so as well as attending lectures, this gives them the opportunity to engage with the materials wherever they may be and at their own pace. Whether that’s going over topics that are particularly complex or using recordings to help with revision, this new system will provide over 30,000 students with outstanding resources to support their learning.”
Sonic Foundry, a world leader in video content management and distribution, is currently the preferred supplier of the new system, with their Mediasite webcasting platform. This automates the capture, management and delivery of the content, which will be searchable, secure and managed in one place. It will also provide analytics so staff can easily track levels of student engagement and interaction.
Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education, said: “Our digital strategy gives Leeds a distinctive advantage and a competitive edge when it comes to enhancing the student experience. As well as meeting the needs and expectations of our students, it also offers our staff the chance to develop new teaching methods, from supplementing their activities with richer online course content through to using valuable contact time for more interaction and problem based learning.”