West Virginia University’s College of Business & Economics is piloting a new technology that allows students to revisit previous lectures. Ten faculty members overseeing 2,000 students are currently using Tegrity, a lecture capture technology, said Carol Henry, director of Information Technology at the B&E. "We have one faculty member from each department in the college" using Tegrity, Henry said, adding professors were chosen "to get a variety of input." Tegrity is an Internet-based software and hardware package allowing professors to record both audio and video from their lectures. A wireless USB microphone works in conjunction with a program that can also record whatever is on a lecturer’s screen. The system is then able to index lectures based on keywords and subjects from PowerPoint presentations and other screen materials. "This allows students to go into a lecture and find a certain topic," Henry said. Professors also have the ability to edit their lectures before uploading them, Henry said, though professors were encouraged to keep the lecture "more natural." Students are able to watch or listen to the lecture immediately after a professor uploads it. Associate professor of accounting Scott Fleming, who uses the system, stressed Tegrity is for review purposes only. "This is not a mechanism for a student to miss class," he said. "Rather it is a mechanism for students to go back and review." Fleming, who teaches a cost accounting class, said having the lectures online would better accommodate students out interviewing for jobs. Melinda Daura, senior accounting major, said she was forced to miss class for a job interview. "I had an interview with a company in Boston and I missed classes on Wednesday and Thursday," Daura said. "I was able to check the class on Wednesday and be up to speed before I got back (Friday)." Adopting a lecture capture technology has been one of the B&E’s strategic initiatives, Henry said. Representatives from WVU were able to see demonstrations of Tegrity and other capture systems. The college decided on Tegrity not only because of its indexing features but also options with how a student can watch the lecture, Henry said. A student "can go in, listen to it at regular speed or slow down playback," Henry said. Unlike other systems, the audio in Tegrity does not sound distorted. "It’s like normal speech, except slowed down," Henry said. "This can help with international students where there may be a language barrier or if someone speaks too fast." Students are also able to give anonymous feedback or ask questions through iPhone applications or other mobile components on any part of a lecture which may need clarification. Henry said she has invited representatives from other colleges to see the system in action. "If tests go well, we hope use will spread across campus," she said.
Business students use technology to replay lectures
Published: Monday, October 19, 2009
Updated: Monday, October 19, 2009 22:10
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