EchoVideo Help - Main Page

 

Winter 2024 New Year, New Enhancements, New Features:  A new Video Player is now seen across the platform excluding Live Streams, create embedded Playlists, choose Virtual Backgrounds when recording with Browser Capture, and several visual improvements that provide simplier workflows improving accessibility.

Overview

EchoVideo is a lecture capture system that records and can Live Stream, in a classroom or at home. Lectures can be scheduled/adhoc in a classroom, recorded on your personal computer (any computer), or in our Studio. Decide how you want to teach with EchoVideo: Live Stream your classes for flexibility, pre-record your lectures, or create  supplemental videos and add value to your current lesson.

Registered students and users in a Canvas course can access and stream videos. EchoVideo is a video solution that enhances any learning setting whether you are teaching onsite, hybrid, or online with features designed to inspire you and increase student learning. 

Keep a close eye on student learning and participation with integrated Analytics and Active Learning Platform (e.g., Q&A, Discussion, Polling, etc. ). 

Watch the video (2:17) below to explore the benefits of using EchoVideo. Explore this article with helpful links - Getting Started for Instructors. EchoVideo is available for current SVSU faculty and staff teaching classes.

Teaching and Learning with EchoVideo

EchoVideo 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 where you can manage and edit your media before sharing with students. If you are using your videos in a future semester, SVSU requires videos to be transcribed. You can share your media with other instructors using Collections. Utilize the integrated active learning tools that foster student learning. All usage (video or polling) analytics are available to view in your library or your course. 

EchoVideo integrates with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Zoom (pro account only) and supports various audio and video content formats including PPT, PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, and more. We offer a series of training (tailored to updates and enhancements) each semester from learning the fundamentals to using interactive features. Register at svsu.edu/workshops. 

Inclusive Teaching Using EchoVideo

Using EchoVideo in your teaching accommodates all students, increases student retention, decreases failure rates, and fosters student engagement. Faculty have the potential to create an engaging and dynamic learning experience for students tailored for any teaching modality.

Microsoft and Zoom (pro account) have video integration with EchoVideo. No more manual downloading or uploading of your videos they can synchronize to your library where you can edit the media and view video analytics. 

Learn more and register for a workshop or ask questions on our exclusive Tech Days.
 

Students Increase Learning Retention

Accessibility: Automatic Speech Recognition

All media recorded or uploaded to EchoVideo will process a transcript. 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. Each transcript should be reviewed and edited to be ADA Compliant. If you have older content without a transcript, you can request transcripts (as needed) by filling out our EchoVideo Transcript Request form. 

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.

TIP: When students play the video with a transcript/caption (instructors can enable CC when their video transcript is 99% accurate), they will see the transcript and CC button in the player controls menu. Learn more about the Classroom Player and its features for instructors.

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Get Started with EchoVideo

If you are new and you are reading this, you will need a user account and training, attend our introductory workshop and svsu.edu/workshops. If you still have questions, please call x4225 or email our IT Support Center.

Support for Instructors

EchoVideo Help Guides:

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

• Instructor FAQs (a compiled list of Q&A)
• ​​Instructor How-to Videos (watch short mini lessons)
• Use Case Videos (suggestive methods)
• Self-paced Tutorials (quick guides), sample image below of the main page.

Workshops (SVSU ITD)

• Check out the What's New to EchoVideo and stay up to date on the latest enhancements.
• Sign up for additional workshops at svsu.edu/workshops 

Support for Students

Help Guides

Live Stream classes or recordings are accessed through an EchoVideo course or recordings can be watched by students when embedded in Canvas. Share our EchoVideo Student Guide it's a great overview for freshmen or those new to video lessons.

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Request a EchoVideo Course

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

Accessing your Content and Supported Browsers

You can access your EchoVideo Library using two methods:

• 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 and open your course via Canvas's course navigation, look for the EchoVideo tab. 

Supported Browsers

Supported and tested browsers are the most recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. 

For the best experience in viewing and streaming EchoVideo recordings users must allow third party cookies in your browser and disable Ad Blockers. Embedded media in Canvas does not use cookies or require an EchoVideo course and is the simplest way to share your video content with students. Learn the difference between using a course or embedding your media.

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Different Ways to Record Content (classroom, specialty space, or your computer)

You can record class lectures anywhere inside a classroom, in our recording studio, (features a Lightboard), or create them on your computer. If you have media, you created using another system, you can upload them to your Library from a computer or use the EchoVideo mobile app. 

Teaching Methods with EchoVideo

Sample ideas to use video in your teaching *Find PDF handouts in the Attachments section (right of the page).

• Record/Live Stream class lecture(s) so students can go back and watch the lesson, reinforce their understanding, and reduce after class questions.
• Record supplemental videos to expand on a real-world experience, explain difficult concepts, cover an exam review, etc. 
• Make quick short videos and embed it an Announcement instead of having them reading the expectations, it lets students know there is an instructor presence.
• Provide pre-recorded videos prior to coming to class, use class time for questions and in-class activities.
• Publish new video lectures, reuse content, or upload media made elsewhere stored in your EchoVideo library and share with students in Canvas.

Increase Student Learning and Participation

• Add embedded polling slides to a video to create engaging multimedia presentations.
• Add embedded polling to presentations and get feedback during class or a Live Stream.
• See “hotspots” in a video indicates where it's been watched several times.
• Use Q&A and allow students to participate publicly or anonymously, (addresses students that don't raise their hand).

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 EchoVideo.

• Click "New Capture - "​​​​​Record with 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. It's available from the Create button once you log into EchoVideo. Browser Capture will only work when you are connected to the Internet.

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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 you're teaching in, the device instructions will vary, we have over 60+ Appliances 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 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 EchoVideo server. 

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Managing, Downloading, 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 before sharing it. Videos can be shared directly to Canvas or with other instructors outside of an EchoVideo 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 EchoVideo content.

Downloading Media

You may need a local copy of your media for offline viewing or advanced video editing. If you own the media or have permission to download the media from an EchoVideo course or a media Collection you will be able to download video(s).

• Downloading Media from your Library
• Downloading Media from a Collection
• Downloading Media From the Class List

Deleting Media

When you click "Delete" in your Library or the trash icon in a Course (Classes list page), there is a message box that advises you of the deletion.

• If you click OK your media will be deleted and go to a recycle bin you can restore up to 3 months from the date of deletion, all analytics and embedded links to the media will be restored.​​​​
• If you want to KEEP the media click the Cancel button. 

Article: How-to Restore Deleted Media

• Deleting media from your Library: When you delete (trash icon) media from your library is it no longer accessible, the video is removed from all published locations, meaning anywhere its embedded or published in a course. Always be cautious before deleting a video from your Library, media can only be restored up to 90 days only.
• 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. 

**Important Note: Scheduled captures CANNOT be deleted by the instructor but an Echo admin can delete them for you. If you would like media deleted, you need to edit the title and type in DELETE, see how to edit the media title. Then, submit an ITS support ticket to put in your request to have ITS remove them.

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Edit Your Video or Transcript

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.

• Video Editor: Works in your browser, allowing you to trim out video content, or chunk down longer videos to smaller segments, combine videos, and add custom thumbnails. View our video editor quick reference guide.
  • Cut, trim, and combine videos
  • Add a custom thumbnail for your video
  • Self-paced video editor tutorial (the newest enhancements are not in this tutorial).
     
• Transcript Editor: Edit your video transcript for accuracy
  • Edit your transcript or apply Closed Captioning
  • Self-paced transcript editor tutorial

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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 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 a course. Both methods do not take up the Canvas course storage because your videos are stored in your cloud Library. Explore more details and View the difference in the video players.

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Engagement and Analytics

There are two methods of enhancing student engagement with EchoVideo 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: 

• Embed videos with polls in a Canvas Content window
• Add a video with polls to a Course (Class)

Active Learning Platform (ALP)

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

How do I use the ALP?

• Control the availability of your course content (e.g., videos, interactive media, or presentations).
• Use the Classroom Tools to engage student participation and learning.
• Add polling slides to a presentation (PowerPoint/PDF) use them in a Live Class so students can participate remotely.
• View/manage a Live Stream class before, during, and after class.

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 EchoVideo's Classroom and its player controls.

Analytics in EchoVideo

Did you know? There are multiple ways to access Analytics in EchoVideo, no matter where media has been published in Canvas. Click the button below to access the video.

EchoVideo Analytics (view in various ways)

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EchoVideo - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

Need Help with EchoVideo?

Keep up-to-date view Features and Updates for Instructors. You can access all our EchoVideo Help requests, by clicking the button below.