Echo360's Annual Active Learning Research Program Now Accepting Submissions for $60,000 in Grant Funding

DULLES, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 30, 2013) - Echo360, the global leader in active and distance learning solutions, is currently accepting applications from client institutions to fund studies that explore the effect of lecture capture, student engagement and social collaboration tools on teaching and learning. This year's Research Grants Program, titled "Create, Engage and Assess: Using Active Learning to Evolve Teaching and Learning," seeks to better understand how these innovative solutions are transforming higher education campuses. 

Previous grant recipients have identified how Echo360 technology improves student learning outcomes, impacts an instructor's reach and changes the teaching and learning dynamic through flipping the classroom. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the annual Research Grants Program has funded more than $250,000 in academic studies. This year's $60,000 award is available to 600+ clients regardless of their location, size or product commitment. 

The 2013 program will grant funding across four categories including a pair of first-time topics. The inaugural "Adopter's Grant" will support two research projects that seek to study the combined impact of both the Echo360 lecture capture solution and the student engagement tool, LectureTools. The new "LectureTools Grant" will be awarded to a single applicant currently using the student response system in their classrooms. The returning "Newcomer's Grant" is designed to encourage an institution with less than two years' experience using Echo360 to ignite a study that measures the impact of the platform on their newly exposed students. Finally, the "Active Learning Merit Grant" will award research funding to two client institutions based exclusively on the most creative or thought-provoking proposal submitted.

"We're honored to show our commitment to the higher education community by funding academic studies that demonstrate how active learning tools influence teaching and learning," said Fred Singer, CEO of Echo360. "The results from these ambitious projects will shape the future of active learning and identify best practices that benefit the global education community. These academic studies offer valuable insights and will greatly influence the direction of our product development."

Echo360 and LectureTools client institutions are encouraged to visit the Echo360 website for additional details and application information. The deadline for submissions is June 28, 2013. A committee comprised of members of the higher education community, previous Echo360 grant recipients and Echo360 representatives will judge all proposals. Grant recipients will be announced September 2013. 

For more information on Echo360's Research Grants Program or our innovative product suite, including the recently acquired social collaboration tool, ThinkBinder, please visit: www.echo360.com

About Echo360:
Nearly 2M students in 6,000 classrooms at 600 institutions across 30 countries rely on Echo360's active learning technology to enhance their educational experience before, during and after class. Developed for educators by educators, Echo360 increases in-class participation with digital polling, provides a rich out-of-class experience by recording and publishing course instruction and delivers deep usage analytics to help instructors respond to student progress. Students watch lectures, collaborate with peers and participate in class on smartphones, tablets and laptops, wherever, whenever they choose. Echo360 was recognized with the Product Line Strategy of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan, is CSIA-certified for outstanding customer service and was named a Visionary Vendor in Educational Technology by IT research firm Basex. Echo360 is backed by Revolution Growth led by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis and Donn Davis.