E-learning Is as Easy as ABC

At Montclair State University, online learning is as easy as ABC, thanks to the University’s adoption of the innovative Lecture123 program, a multi-year campus-wide project providing wide-ranging e-learning solutions for faculty and students.

Last fall, MSU's Office of Information Technology, working with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Business, established a pilot program for Lecture123 to see how well it would work.   

"This teaching tool has so grown in popularity that it is now being used campus wide across a variety of disciplines," said Edward Chapel, associate vice president for Information Technology. "Lecture123 has been readily adopted by faculty and students because of its ease of use and because it works well in all browsers and platforms. The pilot program has grown to include nearly 1,000 users, including such diverse disciplines as math, physical education, art history and management. Quite obviously, we are very encouraged by the results."  

The e-learning tool has been widely accepted by students because they can access recorded lectures with dial-up or broadband connections, Chapel said. In addition, students can e-mail instructors directly from the point of the presentation where the student requires an explanation, with answers integrated back into the session.

According to Patty Kahn, Information Technology training manager, "We've had very positive feedback in our student surveys; they’ve found Lecture123 particularly helpful. I am pleased with the reaction that we have received from faculty and students."  Kahn shared e-mail comments she had received from two University students:

I have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) so I miss part of some lectures when I am unable to concentrate for part of the lecture. It is a very big relief for the first time in my life to know that the material I missed is available at my fingertips for review, to fill in the gaps from class. Thank you for developing software that helps students with learning disabilities review the material in a form other than print. I cried when I used this. Thank you!

For a student like myself who holds a demanding full time job, Lecture123 has allowed me to keep up with the pace of the class. As a working student with a rigorous schedule Lecture123 offers the flexibility I need to finish my undergraduate studies. Furthermore, I hope that eventually the University can leverage Lectuer123 to offer on-line courses. I can truly see my school setting itself apart from other state universities if it can offer Lecture123 in every classroom and eventually offer on-line courses.

Mitch Germansky, Lecture123 CEO explained that "The Web-based communicator enables instructors to record sessions of PowerPoint slides, whiteboard, voice and annotation. These sessions are published for immediate playback over the Web. Students review the recorded lectures and may post questions to instructors directly on the slides. Instructors, notified via e-mail, submit answers that are seamlessly integrated into the session for the benefit of all students. Using any browser, students can review the recorded class lecture or search across all lectures from any location."

Lecture123 is one of MSU’s efforts to "remain at the forefront of adopting effective technology to enhance the learning experience for students with rich online content, which is collaborative, searchable and reusable," said Chapel.