What is Lecturecast?
Lecturecast is an automated system for recording lectures and subsequently making them available via the web. Lecturecast is the chosen service name for the UCL installation of the Echo360 system.
How to decide if Lecturecast is suitable for your needs?
The Lecturecast system is designed primarily for the automated recording of the lectures - it does this well. Activities other than lectures, e.g. Panel Discussions, Conference proceedings etc., may or may not record well using the system - we do not recommend its use for events where production values need to be high; it's very important if you are considering a recording of this type that you review the detailed FAQ and fully understand the limitations of the system in this context:
NB:currently the booking of special captures - e.g out of hours events, conference proceedings etc will not be supported.
Given the potential for recording failure, we strongly advise that lecturers make clear to students the system should not be relied on as a replacement for lecture attendance.
What do students think?
"Because I am an
international student and sometimes I could not hear and understand
clearly. Also since the lectures given by my lecturer are fantastic! It
will be great if we can listen to the lectures again for better
understanding of the topics!"
"I think it relates well to different styles of learning- a great many people find they retain information better if they are able to visualise a lecturer saying it, for example. If more material was available, there would be a more diverse range of revision options other than just textbooks and hastily written lecture notes".
UCL Student Podcast Survey 2009.
(With kind permission of Dr Andrea Townsend-Nicholson)
What does the system capture?
The system captures all material that is sent to the room's projector from any connected device (e.g PowerPoint slides from an attached laptop, hand written notes or objects held under a visualiser); audio is captured from the room's microphone system via a lapel microphone and video of the presentation area (i.e the lecturer or presenter) is captured via a small fixed position camera.
Where can I use lecturecast?
Currently there are systems installed in:
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* Rooms marked with a '*' do not currently contain a video camera but can record audio and presentation/projector content. Video cameras for these rooms will be installed as soon as possible
** Rooms marked with a '**' do not have a managed PC within the room, use of personal laptop is required for presentations
These systems are available for use now. If you are due to deliver lectures in any of the spaces above and would like your lecture(s) recorded, please contact E-Learning Environments.
How do I book a recording?
UCL staff can request a single or series of recordings using the:
Lecturecast booking request form
Please note that for normal lectures ELE require a minimum of 3 days' notice, bookings for special events are currently suspended.
Desktop recording (EchoCapture Personal)
EchoCapture Personal software is already available to any UCL academic staff with an existing account on the Lecturecast service at UCL. The software allows a personal computer/laptop to be used as a recording device to capture anything that is happening on the computer screen along with an audio commentary and optionally a 'talking head' recorded via a webcam. Once recordings have been uploaded to the Echo System Server (ESS) they can, like recordings made in LC equipped theatre spaces, be made available as streamed and downloadable versions.
If you don't already have an account on the Lecturecast system but would like to try out desktop recording using EchoCapture Personal software you can apply for a test account to be set up by following the link to this form
Expansion into other teaching spaces
At the current time deployment is restricted a number of centrally bookable lecture theatres. However if your department or faculty has a teaching space in which you would like to have a capture system installed please contact the project management team, as devices purchased by faculties/departments will be supported centrally. For example, Electrical Engineering have installed into one of their teaching spaces in 66-72 Gower Street; this device will use the centralised architecture to host and deliver content and user support through ELE; the faculty is responsible for the hardware costs and for in room audio visual support. All license costs are covered by the existing UCL site Licence agreement.
Page last modified on 07 may 13 14:31
