Wintec Joins International e-Learning Initiative

Wintec Joins International e-Learning Initiative

Wintec CEO Mark Flowers announced today that the institute had been accepted as a member of the internationally acclaimed “Socrates” project.

The Socrates project, managed by US based innovative educational technology company Panopto, will provide Wintec with access to an advanced Lecture Capture Technology application. This is a software application that will enable Wintec tutors to broadcast, in real-time, lectures, demonstrations and workshops over the internet enabling students to “attend” lectures without needing to be in a lecture theatre or class room. The project will be managed at Wintec by Dr John Clayton of the institute’s Emerging Technologies Centre whom, Mr. Flowers said has an international reputation in the effective deployment of e-learning applications. The system will be piloted in the coming months.

Dr. Clayton said it is anticipated that broadcasts will be recorded, edited and stored so that students can revisit lectures and classes, or even small sections of them, at anytime.

Mr. Flowers said the ability for students to access classes in such a flexible manner is expected to positively impact on pass rates, retention and motivation. He said this clearly demonstrated that Wintec’s student focus and drive to modernise the institute and its commitment to flexible delivery was maintaining momentum. Wintec also has early adopter status with Microsoft and is the first tertiary in the country to have provided a combination of technologies to its students through a unique student portal.

“Having the ability to call on a leading edge international company such as Panopto aligns well with Wintec’s reputation as a leading edge provider of education in New Zealand.”

Panopto President Brad Winney said Wintec was the company’s newest Socrates Project associate and its first relationship with an educational institution in New Zealand. “We look forward to providing an on-demand solution for the vast array of premium courses offered by Wintec” he said.

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