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.
ends