University of Ottawa Improves Learning Outcomes and Secures 99 Percent Participation Rate Using Echo360

RESTON, VA--(Marketwired - March 04, 2015) - Echo360, the global leader in active learning, today announced the findings of Dr. Colin Montpetit from the University of Ottawa regarding his semester-long research of Echo360 active learning technologies in the classroom. 

Dr. Montpetit observed a significant improvement in student performance, engagement and course preparation after deploying Echo360. At the completion of his three-section, single-semester findings from 600 students, he recorded the following significant increases:

• Ninety-nine percent participation in three, 225 student classrooms
• Three to ten point increase in final exam average
• Eighty percent reduction in failing grades
• Sixty-six percent of students actively taking notes each class
• Roughly 350-500 words per class were typed directly into the platform as digital notes
• Five to ten questions asked per student, per class

"Echo360 technologies have helped me transform my classroom into an active learning zone," said Dr. Collin Montpetit, assistant professor of biology at the University of Ottawa. "Echo360 enables instructors to engage, support and communicate with every student in large lecture halls -- something that was previously impossible."

The core capabilities of Echo360 transform classrooms into dynamic, interactive and accessible learning spaces. Echo360 allows instructors to digitize presentations and students to follow along during class, aligning their personal notes with the instructor's comments. Instructors then add digital questions, polls and quizzes throughout the presentation. Students respond on their computers or phones, giving instructors near-instant feedback into class progress. Instructors have a dashboard that shows every student's participation rate, allowing them to flag at-risk students. Prior to Echo360, instructors had no insight into student progress before exam time.

"Dr. Montpetit is a trailblazer in his use of Echo360 to switch from passive to active learning," said Fred Singer, CEO of Echo360. "His data confirms that when instructors integrate Echo360 technology into their courses, they can identify at-risk students to increase retention while providing a tool to help increase student learning outcomes."

For more information and details on Dr. Montpetit's research, read his complete blog series at the Echo360 blog.

About Echo360:
Over 2 million students at 625 schools across 30 countries rely on Echo360 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 needs. Students revisit 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, which is led by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis, and Donn Davis.