Tamaqua Area School District Adds Echo360 Lecture Capture to Engage Millennial Learners

TAMAQUA, PA–(EMWNews – 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 1990s. 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 SATs, 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.”

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.