Case Studies

Background

Echo360, the university's provider of lecture capture, noticed our students using their technology in creative and unexpected ways. This observation sparked a collaborative initiative with our Digital Learning team to explore how students themselves would improve their educational technology experience.

The goal was to empower students to think innovatively about educational technology tools, regardless of their technical background, and to foster creative thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Challenge

Despite the widespread use of lecture capture tools, student engagement with these platforms often remains passive. Echo360 and Warwick sought to address the following challenges:

• How can lecture capture tools better support diverse learning styles?
• What features would students add or change to enhance their learning experience?
• How can students be meaningfully involved in shaping the future of EdTech?

The challenge was to gather fresh, student-led ideas that could inform future product development, while also providing participants with valuable skills and recognition.

Solution

Together with Echo360, we designed a multi-stage innovation challenge open to all students, regardless of technical expertise. The structure included:

• Launch Event: Students were introduced to Echo360’s current and upcoming features and given a worksheet to guide their creative thinking.
• Mentoring Session: Online support helped teams refine their ideas.
• Pitching Practice: An optional rehearsal session allowed teams to polish their presentations.
• Pitch Event: Final ideas were presented to a panel of judges from Warwick, Echo360, and the student body.

To ensure motivation and inclusivity, participants were offered several incentives, including professional skill development, core skills points towards the Warwick Award, digital credentials and vouchers and prizes.

Testimonial of Chris Clow, Digital Learning Lead at Echo360

“This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible collaboration from our colleagues at the University of Warwick.

The level of creativity and thoughtfulness across all teams was inspiring. Every student who participated brought something unique to the table, and their contributions made this event a resounding success. Together, they powerfully reinforced the importance of the student voice in shaping the future of learning technology.”

Conclusion

The Echo360 Ideathon successfully demonstrated the power of student-led innovation in educational technology. By creating a space for creativity, collaboration, and recognition, we not only gathered valuable insights for product development but also empowered students to become active contributors to the future of learning.

This initiative serves as a model for how universities and educational technology companies can co-create meaningful experiences that benefit both learners and technology providers. These slides illustrate the key stages of event planning, highlight the insights gained, and present the outcomes of the Ideathon.