Echo360 Help - Main Page

Echo360 new logoComing Q1 2023 to Echo360Video: Updated video player with engagement tools, navigate to the content easier with video chapters (optional), new admin content notifications with more coming in Q2 for instructors, and more. 

Overview

Echo360 is a video hosting platform that allows you to capture your lectures in a classroom, at home or your office with Echo360 Universal Capture, record with Browser Capture from any computer, or through Teams or Zoom video integration. Instructors have the ability to edit media before publishing videos to Canvas with a variety of ways to share the media with students in Canvas. Instructors can control the availability of student access (if desired). Echo360 includes a content management system where you can access all media and courses, and view student analytics. The system promotes active learning in a variety of ways whether you are teaching synchronously or asynchronously.

**Echo360 has the capability to integrate your videos from Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Zoom.

Article Sections
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Recommended for Getting Started with Echo360, others build on using the system. Find quick answers, best practices, and helpful tips. 

What is Echo360?

Browser Requirements for Viewing On-Demand recordings/Live Stream classes
Firefox (recommended) Google Chrome, and Edge do work with Echo360, the latest browser version; these browsers and supported by Canvas. Check your browser version at https://www.whatismybrowser.com NOTE: Safari and Internet Explorer do not work well and are not supported by Echo360.

Echo360 provides the ability to record in a classroom, create personal lectures, or upload media from other platforms, all media is stored in your personal cloud library. If you are using your videos in a future semester, SVSU requires videos to be transcribed. You can share videos with other instructors using Collections. Echo360 provides integrated active learning tools that foster student engagement and learning. All usage (video or polling) analytics are available to view in your library or your course. Echo360 has video integration with three supported tools for synchronous learning at no cost to faculty: Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Zoom (pro account only).  

Why Echo360?

Using Echo360 in your teaching accommodates all students, increases student retention, decreases failure rates, and fosters student engagement. Microsoft and Zoom (pro account) have video integration with Echo360. No manual downloading or uploading of your videos they can sync to your Echo360 library where you can edit the media and view video analytics.

Echo360 Main Infographic

Inclusive Teaching Using Video

The Echo system allows you to capture using different methods inside or outside of the classroom, and save time by reusing videos. In addition, the Echo360 provides an Active Learning Platform to engage students (Q&A, Polling, etc.), and gathers video analytics, so you know when students are succeeding or falling behind. Learn how Echo360 can simplify your teaching and be a valuable learning and engagement tool for your students.
  • Save time: Reuse content in your courses, you do not have to re-teach concepts, schedule/Live Stream classroom recordings, and teach as normal.
  • Flexible teaching: If you have to miss class for any reason, inclement weather, illness, or other situations; you can pre-record your lecture, your schedule doesn't fall behind and neither do students. 
  • Increase student retention: Improves student grades because they can rewatch videos.  The instructor can view all video analytics in Echo360.
  • Break accessibility barriers: Provides automatic speech recognition/closed captioning that can improve accessibility for those with special needs.
  • Increased engagement: Creates instructor presence through video, allows you to demonstrate difficult concepts, and checks for student understanding with the integrated active learning tools (Q&A, Polling, etc.).
  • Secure access: From within Canvas or echo360.org from your office, home, or any location.

Students Improve their Learning Experience with Video


An infographic of Echo360 features
Echo360 benefits students with a wide range of learning styles and those with accessibility needs. Echo360 is helpful for students who need to miss class for any reason, they can access recorded content from anywhere and keep up with their coursework. 
  • Inclusive learning: Echo360 creates an accessible learning environment from within Canvas, utilizing the three pillars of Universal Design.
  • Reinforce concepts: Content can be re-watched or re-read anywhere, on any device. Variable playback controls for different learning styles help students understand course content.
  • Engagement/Collaboration: Students can respond to peers or the instructor in-class discussion, anonymous Q&A, and polling, (invisible to peers, not the instructor) encourages student participation and gives an inclusive learning experience.
  • Student success: (polling, notes, study guide). Students can interact with the media such as, rewatch media, ask questions, take notes, and create a study guide.
  • Secure access: Students or other users in your Canvas course can access videos or presentation slides, there is no extra log in for them. 

Echo360 Accessibility: Automatic Speech Recognition

Echo360 provides Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) transcription. ASR can be requested for your courses or for specific media. If you are reusing videos in future terms, it is necessary that your content is transcribed and is compliant for all learners. Read more about compliance below.

SVSU requires videos to be transcribed if you are using them in a future semester. Once your videos have transcripts it will remain with the video regardless of where it is published and the video will always be in your library unless you delete it. Note: Transcripts can be requested at any time, as needed.

Get Started with Echo360 

If you are new and you are reading this, you will need a user account and training, attend our introduction workshop and Get started with Echo360. After you attend the introductory workshop, review the support for instructors links below, if you need help please reach out to support@svsu.edu

Support for Instructors

Help Guides:

Watch how-to videos, interact in self-paced tutorials, and watch how other universities are using Echo360 in their teaching.

Echo360 Getting Started page for Instructors

Workshops (SVSU ITD)

Support for Students

Help Guides

Live Stream classes or recordings are accessed through Canvas either by viewing on the Classes list page (Echo360 course/Active Learning Platform) or videos can be watched embedded in Canvas. View our student help guides below, and share them with your students, it's a great overview for freshmen or those new to Echo360.

Request an Echo360 Course

Each semester if you intend to use Echo360 record in the classroom/Live Stream, or foster student engagement utilizing the *Active Learning Platform (ALP) you need to request an Echo360 courseYou DO NOT need to fill out the form if you are embedding your videos in Canvas; your media resides in Echo360, you only need an Echo360 account. 

Embed videos in Canvas. It is the simplest method for sharing videos with your students without using the Active Learning Platform. Embedded videos can be copied for future semester use without breaking links and provides user-specific analytics. 

Accessing Echo360 and Supported Browsers

Log into Echo360

You can access Echo360 and manage your media using two methods:

  • Echo360: Visit echo360.org log in with your SVSU email address and password (not your SVSU network password). If you forget your password, reset it here.
  • Canvas: Log into Canvas, then open your course, click Echo360 in Canvas's course navigation. 

Echo360 Supported Browsers

Echo360 Supported browsers  

As a reminder, Firefox and Chrome are needed for Echo360 to work correctly. However, for the best experience, Firefox is the recommended browser for viewing and streaming Echo360 recordings.

Supported browsers are Firefox and Chrome (latest versions). DO NOT USE Internet Explorer or Safari
Update Firefox. Don't have it installed download Firefox.
Update Google Chrome or download Google Chrome.

Different Ways to Record Content with Echo360 

Have you recorded a lecture using Browser Capture its a quick and easy way to record videos on any computer, you just need an Internet connection and a supported browser. Simply click the blue Create button while logged into Echo360.

Echo360 allows you to record content in the classroom and on your computer. Lectures can be recorded inside a classroom, in our recording studio, (Lightboard or Surface Studio), or outside of the classroom (on your computer). If you have recorded lectures using another system, you can upload them to Echo360 on your computer or use the Echo360 mobile app.

Record personal lectures on your computer

Create personal lectures or supplemental lessons on your computer (university or personal) from your office or at home. Launch one of the recording apps from the blue Create button in Echo360.

Echo360 blue Create button

  • Click "New Capture - "​​​​​Record with Echo360’s Universal Capture: Personal" free software that can be installed onto university or personal PCs (Mac or Windows 10). You can create a Live Stream or record offline. 
  • Click "New Browser Capture -  "​​​​​Record with Browser Capture" no software needed, record online on any computer, record your screen, an application window, or your browser tab. Its available from the Create button once you log into Echo360. Browser Capture will only work when you are connected to the Internet.
Reuse/share video content by embedding your videos in Canvas or publish to an Echo360 course (utilizes the Active Learning Platform).

Classroom Recordings and Live Stream

Teach as normal in your classroom just turn the system on, prepare your screen, and or documents, and teach. Depending on the room your teaching in; the device instructions will vary, we have over 60+ Echo360 Appliances (Pod or Pro) installed on campus, most rooms have Classroom Capture software installed in the podium, View our Classroom Installed Technology page.

Classroom Recording Best Practices 

  • Don't have multiple applications open, clean up your desktop.
  • The following list suggests best practices for classroom recordings.
  • Before class ensure the microphone is plugged in and is facing toward you (insert picture). 
  • To ensure student questions are captured during class, repeat the questions so they are clearly recorded. 
  • Do not view private emails, student grades, etc. on the podium computer, the system will record your screen. 
  • Do not unplug the microphone and avoid private conversations with students before, during, and after class at the podium, it may be recorded. If this type of conversation is needed, do it elsewhere for privacy reasons. 
  • Recording in a room without an Echo360 Appliance (a room without a camera)?
    • Ensure that the podium computer is turned on, logged into, and kept on throughout the class. 
    • After class keep the computer on (you can log off) to allow the recording to upload to the Echo360 server. 
During a Live Stream class, you can monitor participants. After class, you can see student participation from within your library (specific individual media) or view within an Echo360 course/section (class/lesson).

Viewing Video Analytics in Echo360

What does Echo360 Track Video Views After a Class Session? Echo360 tracks ALL usage (video views) regardless of how it was captured Live Stream or recorded. The data includes student names, total views, total view time (duration), number of times a student joined a Live stream or viewed a recording, and the last viewed Date.
How do Video Analytics work? The way Echo360 analytics work is it includes ALL VIEWS whether the students have watched or interacted with the content in the DURING or AFTER class. The analytics aren't real time for video views it does take time to update, video views are updated hourly. 

View Live stream attendance after a live class session.
Access usage Analytics in your Library includes views for embedded media or Echo360 course media

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are monitoring video views for embedded media, always refer to the individual media Analytics in your Library for accuracy, or through the consolidated Analytics tab (views are updated hourly). If you are using an Echo360 course and embedding videos within Canvas, video views will NOT be reported on the course analytics page.

Managing and Deleting Your Media

Media that you own or content shared with you will always be found on the Library tab, you will always see two panels for your content Collections (top) and Media (bottom). There are multiple ways to manage media in Echo360 before sharing it. Videos can be shared directly to Canvas or with other instructors outside of an Echo360 course, additionally, content can be added to a Collection that can be shared with others; where you can set permissions on what each member is allowed to do.

Each media piece provides a thumbnail preview and can be edited with various commands (e.g., Share, Edit Media, Edit Transcript, Add/Edit a Poll, Edit Details, Make a Copy, Download, Delete), please see the note below on deleting Echo360 content.

Deleting Echo360 Content

* Note: When you click "Delete" in your Library or the trash icon in a Course Class, there is a message box that advises you of the deletion, this is the last step before the content is removed. If you are sure you do not need the media, click OK to delete the media, (see sample image below).

Echo360 message box confirming deletion of media
  • Deleting media from your Library: If you delete media from your Library it is deleted from Echo360, it is permanent! SVSU ITS cannot restore it. Always be cautious before deleting a video from your Library, be sure you no longer need it as the video is removed from all published locations, meaning anywhere its embedded or published classes in an Echo360 course. NOTE: If the media you are trying to delete is from a scheduled capture, you won't be able to delete the media. If that is the case then you will need to rename the media with delete in the title. Click Edit Details to rename your video.
  • Removing media from a Course Class: If you remove media, (e.g., video, presentation, video with polls (interactive media)) from a class it is simply removing the student's ability to access the content. The media is removed from the class along with the associated analytics, it is not from removed from your Library. 

* Note: Scheduled captures will NOT be able to be deleted by the instructor. If you need media deleted that you no longer need, please submit an ITS support ticket and provide the video titles or previous course(s) you'd like media deleted from. 

Learn more about managing your media in Echo360 in a dedicated workshop register at svsu.edu/workshops

Edit Your Video or Transcript in Echo360

Edit your video or transcript without the need of downloading software, edits made can always be restored, and if you need to share editing rights with other instructors, you can create a Collection of media and set other permissions for what they are allowed to do with your media.

Reusing Audio or Video Media? Transcriptions must be applied when reusing videos, always ensure your videos are ADA Compliant. If Automatic Speech Recognition is not turned on request it to be enabled in your course or fill out our Echo360 Transcript Request.

Helpful Tips for Videos with Transcripts.
  • Ensure that you edit your video first, make any necessary trims or cuts, and then edit and finalize your transcript.
  • Once your videos have transcripts you do not need to request ASR, the transcripts remain on your video unless you delete them. 
  • Added benefits of transcripts added to your video are that when students are viewing the transcript along with the video/audio, it can help reinforce understanding and retention of the material. 

Sharing and Publishing Your Media in Canvas

There are different ways you can share (publish) content to Canvas. Students can access your media whether you are embedding media in Canvas using the Echo360 media embed button inside of the Rich Content Editor (look for a plug-shaped icon in the toolbar) or sharing media directly from your library and publishing to an Echo360 course. View the difference in the video players. Both methods do not take up the Canvas course storage because your videos are stored in your Echo360 Library. 

Need to share your videos outside of Canvas?  There are two methods for sharing your videos internally (those with an SVSU email address) or externally without one.

  • Microsoft StreamUpload your video(s) to Microsoft Stream, set viewing permissions for specific individuals, specific groups, or allow all individuals with an SVSU email address to view them. Links to your video do not expire.
  • OneDriveUpload your video(s) to OneDrive, set viewing permissions for specific individuals, allow all individuals with an SVSU email address to view your video, or anyone with the link to view them (allows external viewing). Links to your video(s) will expire after 30 days or less, you would need to reshare the video link for longer viewing.

An image: Embedded Media Analytics User Video Views

You can view user analytics within your Echo360 Library. 

Student View LTI Error? Student View in Canvas does not work with Echo360, you will receive an LTI error. 
Sharing Content with other Echo360 users? You can share videos or other content from your library with other Echo360 instructors as long as they have a user account. Sharing doesn't provide users with an email notification of the share, but they can view the media inside of their Library. 

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)

Accessibility Compliance at SVSU. Echo360's Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) makes it easy to ensure the videos being reused are more accommodating to students. ASR creates a transcript from the audio in the video. The instructor is responsible for reviewing and editing the transcript to ensure it meets ADA Compliance for all users. Students can read along while watching the video, or search the transcript and be taken to the exact location they want to review. The transcript supports screen readers, and closed captioning can be enabled. 

See the example image of viewing a transcript as a student.

Engagement and Analytics

There are two methods of enhancing student engagement with Echo360 for synchronous or asynchronous classes. You can increase student learning by embedding polls in a video or using the Active Learning Platform (ALP) and its Classroom Tools. The ALP allows students to view the content (video, presentation, interactive media) as needed, and instructors can see student participation on who may, or may not be engaged. Learn the different methods on how you can engage students and view their participation (video views and polling responses). 

Embedded Polling (create an interactive poll or quiz)

Embedded Polling in a video (recommended for asynchronous teaching) is a great way to check for student learning. Embedded Polling (interactive media) gate the media students are viewing, they are required to submit their answers before they can continue to watch. There are various question types you can add. Polls can be created new or reused, they store in your Library. There are two different methods of sharing interactive media with students: 

Active Learning Platform (ALP)

An Echo360 course (Active Learning Platform) can be used for scheduled/Live Stream or non-scheduled classes. Having an Echo360 course, allows you to share videos (e.g., scheduled or personal recordings) from your library with students. They can be shared automatically from a scheduled class or added manually (see the blue call-out box below).

The ALP provides other ways to share content with students such as interactive media (videos with polls), or presentations. Along with various ways to engage your students and ensure participation. Instructors can use the Classroom Tools where students can interact with class media, ask questions, participate in Discussion, and respond to polls. The functionality of the Classroom Tools differs slightly for instructors and students, view an image of the Classroom Toolbar, and learn how to navigate Echo360's Classroom and its player controls.

Some of the common questions we get asked are provided below. In an Echo360 course, you can:

As a reminder, there are two methods of sharing content to your Echo360 course (ALP):

Publish a Video from your library to your Echo360 course

Import a Video to a Class from your library (adds a video to the classes list page). 

Echo360 FAQs at SVSU

View a compilation of frequently asked questions from helpful tips, solutions, and more.

Need Echo360 Help?

Keep up-to-date with Echo360, see Features and Updates for Instructors. Quickly access all our Echo360 Help requests, click the button below.

Create Ticket

Details

Article ID: 122461
Created
Thu 12/10/20 6:04 PM
Modified
Tue 3/14/23 2:48 PM

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Related Services / Offerings (2)

Echo360 is a video hosting system that allows a faculty an easy way to capture, edit, upload, and publish media to students in Canvas. If you are filling out this form, you are requesting an Echo360 course which utilizes the Active Learning Platform (ALP). The blue boxes provide important information, or you can click the "?" for more details. Please read questions carefully and fill out each question as it applies to your classes.
This form is to request transcripts for Echo360 media. If you are reusing content SVSU requires them to be transcribed so they are compliant for all learners. Please fill out this form so we can process your request.