Industry News
Echo360 Acquires Assessment and Credentialing Platform
Echo360 is adding new tools to assess learning and measure student engagement in continuing education programs, thanks to the acquisition of online learning company Astute Technology. Astute's testing and certification platform allows institutions to "evaluate user comprehension of video content and generate cloud-based certificates as users master new skills and competencies," according to a press release.
According to Echo360, the acquisition reflects the company's efforts to "[transform] traditional lecture capture from passive infrastructure technology into collaborative communities of learning and insights."
"As institutions continue to invest heavily in video infrastructure and cloud-based technology, it's essential that those investments are tied to improving learning outcomes," said Fred Singer, CEO of Echo360, in a statement. "The integration of Astute Technology assessment and analytics capabilities will help CIOs, institutional leaders and training providers 'future proof' their video investment, allowing these new platforms to support the core objectives of teaching and learning."
"The shift toward competency-based learning and hiring is driving demand for much more granular insight into better evidence of what students learn, and how that learning translates into workforce relevant skills," said Jon Merril, CEO of Astute Technology. "Today's learners — undergraduates and professionals — increasingly need access to the right content, at the right time. Our experience in aligning content with dynamic assessments to measure comprehension, paired with Echo360's video platform, assembles critical elements to make use of video across complex organizations, and design digital learning experiences that drive learning outcomes."
For more information, visit the Echo360 site.
About the Author
Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].
