Lecture Capture and Web Conferencing

Applications for online lectures and synchronous meetings

What is Lecture Capture?

Lecture capture may be described as technology that allows instructors to record their lectures and make them available digitally online. Examples of lecture capture may include audio any of the following technologies:

  • Audio narration over a slide presentation
  • Podcasting
  • Screen capturing or recording
  • Live synchronous meetings or Webinars

Why might I want to use lecture capture?

Below are some possible reasons for “capturing” instructional content:

  • Explanation of difficult concepts, students may benefit from repeated viewing
  • Extend the learning outside the classroom (remote or online learning)
  • Provide a “personal” experience and opportunity for students to feel more engaged with their instructor

Web Conferencing: Which Application Should I Use?

The resource below provides a comparison of some of the available applications for Web Conferencing:

Web Conferencing Tools at Harper (Comparison Chart, PDF file)

TitleDescriptionAvailable Features
Blackboard Collaborate UltraBlackboard Collaborate Ultra provides a convenient, simple to use web-based video conferencing and recording tool.
- Harper College provides access and support for application
- Course room for instructors and students to meet live synchronously
- Record live lectures, meetings, presentations, and virtual office hours
- Participants can interact via live video with the options of screen sharing, file sharing, breakout groups, polling, chat
Cisco WebexCisco Webex is a web conferencing tool supported by Harper college and is a good choice for meetings and large synchronous classes.
- Harper College provides access and support for application
- Annotate and narrate over applications, content and presentations
- Pin video to view ASL interpreters
- Record and schedule live lectures, meetings, presentations
- Schedule and integrate with Outlook
GoReactA cloud-based video recording tool that integrates with Blackboard
- Harper College provides access and support for application
- Capture video for communication and instruction
- Store GoReact video in online account and share through Blackboard
- Real-time Feedback for ASL and speech

Microsoft StreamAvailable via Office 365, upload and store recorded videos with fellow Faculty and staff on campus.
- Harper College provides access and support for application
- Auto-captions can be repaired and downloaded for placement back into Blackboard Collaborate or YouTube.*
- Download Subtitles and Captioning and Transcript repair
- Online storage for recorded videos
- Screen Recording
PanoptoPanopto is an all-in-one video platform that makes it easy to create and manage video content and can be integrated with Blackboard and Webex.- Accessibility functions such as automatic captioning, playback speed, and more
- Interactive video features such as embedded quizzes, discussions and table of contents
- video content searchable
- Video editing tools
Microsoft TeamsAvailable via Office 365, Teams is a digital hub that can be used for group work, file sharing and conversations.
- Harper College provides access and support for application
- Chat and post updates to a team
- Collaborate and share files with group or team
- Create channels related to subjects projects and topics
- Meet and record via audio or video
SwivlSwivl is a video collaboration, hardware, and software solution that allows educators to record their classrooms, presentations or student interactions.- Asynchronous Recording
- Live Streaming
- Split screen recording of presentation and speaker
- Video camera can follow speaker
TechSmith Camtasia StudioSoftware for recording, editing and narrating over presentations and video.
- Harper College provides limited support and may be purchased on basis of need through department budget
- Licensed software, fee-based, speak to department regarding licensing
- Screen recorder
- Storage of video locally on computer, YouTube or on another cloud service.
- Video editor
This table provides information related to lecture capture, screen sharing, and other Web conferencing software for delivering online instruction.
Lecture Capture and Web Conferencing menu card

Teaching with Technology