Echo360 Embeds Rich Media Instruction Into Open-Source Moodle LMS

DULLES, VA--(Marketwire - Sep 6, 2011) - Echo360, the global leader in campus-wide blended learning and lecture capture solutions, today announced the availability of a new integration for institutions using the open-source learning management system Moodle. Instructors can now easily and safely disseminate video and multimedia course materials created with the EchoSystem to their students. This integration further extends EchoSystem interoperability for higher education institutions using Moodle 1.9 and 2.0.

Colleges and universities deploy Echo360 technology to enrich the blended course experience thereby driving distance learning initiatives, improving graduation rates and retaining more students. The integration makes the EchoCenter portal an embeddable component within Moodle course pages. Students access their Echo360 course content in the EchoCenter while instructors assess learner progress, engagement and usage with custom metrics. Using this integration, these capabilities are available within the already familiar Moodle environment.

Echo360 partnered with leading educational technology and services organization, NetSpot, to develop the integration. NetSpot offers managed hosting for various e-learning systems across Australasia including Moodle for over 600,000 users from institutions such as University of Canberra and LaTrobe University.

NetSpot Managing Director Allan Christie said, "The Echo360 Moodle integration was developed with support and feedback from the Moodle community. The integration makes it more efficient to manage rich media recordings in large-scale environments. NetSpot is proud to work collaboratively again with Echo360 to deliver another premium product for the education sector."

The Echo360 Moodle integration is highly secure for institutions and instructors. It leverages Trusted System Authentication, or seamless login, into Moodle. This solution ensures that each viewer has permission to access the instructor's lecture content.

"Many institutions choose Moodle because of its flexibility for instructors. The Echo360 Moodle integration embraces this approach," said Fred Singer, CEO of Echo360. "Instructors are in the best position to decide how to leverage their lecture content. By embedding the EchoCenter into Moodle, instructors retain this control while gaining more information about when and how students engage with rich media to improve the learning experience."

The Echo360 Moodle integration is available now and free for all Echo360 customers. EchoSystem 4.0 supports content sharing with other popular systems, including Blackboard® Learn®, iTunesU, and ANGEL, as well as media distribution options via RSS feeds and email.

About NetSpot
NetSpot Pty Ltd (ABN 50 083 417 403) is an eLearning technology services partner to the education sector in Australasia. NetSpot provides AARNet-based managed hosting for various eLearning Systems including Moodle for over 600,000 users. NetSpot is an official Moodle Partner in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, an official Echo360 hosting partner in Australia and a Mahara (ePortfolio) Partner.

About Echo360
As a global leader in blended learning and lecture capture solutions, Echo360 helps higher education institutions keep pace with modern students' learning needs through products that digitally record and upload learning content. Echo360 has been recognized with a Product Line Strategy of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan and named a Visionary Vendor in Educational Technology by IT research firm Basex. Echo360's products facilitate better instruction, lower costs and enrich learning experiences by enabling students to easily access and share multimedia content. Through Echo360's platform, students can replay recorded sessions and review course information online at their convenience and across various devices. More than 400 colleges and universities in 29 countries use Echo360's solution.