Lecture Capture Creates Powerful Possibilities for Mobile Learning

Our ability to access and benefit from learning content is evolving before our eyes as lecture capture technology blows the doors wide open on the possibilities for mobile learning.

Guest post from Jessica Athey.

Whether you deliver learning or training in a blended learning environment or fully online, lecture capture technologies provide valuable tools to enhance instruction for learners outside of a classroom setting. With the capability to dive into learning material at their own pace, learners have the chance to pause, rewind, replay and access the material whenever and as often as needed in an effort to better understand and retain the information. This is particularly valuable when learning a detailed process.

Once these resources go beyond our desktops and onto smartphones and tablets, we create a mobile and social experience that transforms traditional learning into valuable opportunities for engagement, better performance and innovation.

Lecture Capture Technologies and “Going Mobile”
Before we explore how lecture capture technologies are transcending the traditional learning landscape into a highly mobile environment, let’s take a look at the lecture capture technologies that greatly enhance the learning experience on mobile devices:

Video – This powerful tool for learning adds a dynamic and engaging resource to any course. New tools make it easier than ever to quickly capture videos and instantly upload them to our courses, mobile devices and sites like YouTube (and YouTube EDU). Videos capture and deliver valuable information, demonstrations and explanations unlike any other technology. Learners on the go can instantly tap into videos (published in supported formats) on their mobile devices to access valuable information when needed.

Screen captures –These images, taken of anything on a computer desktop, can be great resources to highlight particular applications, documents and anything else on our screens. Tools like Snagit enable users to highlight, add text, circle and create different types of callouts to transform these images into a valuable learning tool.

Screen recordings – Like screen captures, screen recordings are a very beneficial tool when learners need to learn how to do a particular detailed process. Since these videos capture all cursor movement on your desktop, learners get a firsthand view into step-by-step instructions and processes. Applications like Camtasia Studio Pro allow the author to add zoom and pan effects, transitions, animation and more to make the demonstration more clear and much more engaging.

Podcasts – Podcasts provide a great, easy-to-access audio and screen recordings for learners and are perfect for learning outside of a classroom and even on-the-go using smartphones, tablets and even MP3 players.

Accessible, Engaging & Valuable Learning with Mobile
While these technologies for lecture capture themselves may not all be big news, their capabilities for mobile and social learning are transforming the way learning material is delivered, consumed and utilized. The increasing capabilities of mobile technology make it possible for learners to access all of these valuable resources on their smartphones and tablets, making the learning process more accessible, engaging and much more valuable.

Access to mobile learning can also offer essential job support and increase productivity. It can be easy for people to access video demonstrations while in the field with today's mobile technologies. Perhaps it’s a quick reference for a medical student or a demonstrative video for an aircraft engineer – both can greatly benefit from these lecture capture technologies on their mobile devices while on the job. For others, these mobile technologies for lecture capture are a matter of convenience, as they may utilize “second screens,” so they can use both a computer and a smartphone or tablet at the same time to complete either parallel or integrated tasks.

With the mobile possibilities at our fingertips, learners have the opportunity to engage, collaborate and innovate in ways that transcend traditional blended and online learning environments. Access to resources at any time, in any place and with the ability to connect with others creates an environment where learners can really dive into the material and leverage it in powerful ways. This exchange of information and ideas enhances performance, sparks interest, motivation and innovation – all of which are at the core of any learning initiative.

Jessica Athey is Manager of Global Marketing for Lectora, and has extensive experience in the e-Learning industry. As the world's leading e-Learning Software, Lectora is used by most Global 2000 companies in more than 125 countries and is offered in six languages. .

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