Using Video Conferencing in Lecture Classes

Duquesne University's Journalism and Multimedia Arts (JMA) department provides educational programming aimed at developing professionals in the digital media field. A core tenet of the program is cultivating student proficiency in the design and development of digital media programs and systems. The department prepares its graduates for roles as multimedia and e-learning developers in academic, healthcare, and corporate settings. Preparing students for work in these fields requires that the department and its faculty keep up with current technology and seek new approaches to support student learning. One innovation JMA recently implemented features Sonic Foundry's Mediasite video conferencing system, which can record, archive, and distribute class lectures online. The system makes recorded lectures available to students for review on an as-needed basis and enables geographically distant students to participate in on-campus classes.