AIKEN --- Aiken Technical College students that wish they could rewind a lecture can not only do so, but now can pause, fast forward or watch it at home.

The college is in the early stage of recording lectures on DVD to be checked out at the library.

"It offers a delivery method to students who cannot be here; you're not dependent on the note-taking capabilities of a classmate," said Dr. Tracy Pierner, Aiken Tech's education technology dean.

With the Echo lecture capture system, a classroom is outfitted with a camera and microphones to pick up the instructor's lecture and their classmates' feedback. The system costs about $55,000 for equipment and software, an investment Dr. Pierner said will pay off because it gives students more flexibility.

Making copies takes less than a day, said Lynne Weldon, Aiken Tech's computer technology chairwoman.

"It feels like they were in class and if there was an assignment, they can also see if they complete it in the same amount of time as their classmates," she said.

Students with scheduling issues can also complete classes they can't physically attend.

Erin Shealy, a marketing and management student, needed one class to graduate this spring, but it was only offered during the day.

She now uses the DVDs for her marketing class. With two children, the system allows her time with her family after work and then class time at 10 p.m.

"I still get to be a part of the class and I love that I can pause or rewind or just walk away," she said.

If a question comes up, she e-mails the instructor. Ms. Shealy's input is also brought back to her classmates via the instructor.

"It gets pretty comical because I'll respond in my living room or start laughing to myself," she said. "It's much better than other online classes, too, because you still get the lecture."

The Aiken Tech system is one of several options for nontraditional lectures, but Dr. Pierner said this is the best he has seen.

Augusta Technical College spokeswoman Bonita Jenkins said the college has offered lectures on VHS for many years and has a system in place for instructors to do voice-overs for multimedia presentations. Augusta State also offers taped classes per instructor's discretion.

Paine College has plans to add an online lecture series in the next few years.

Dr. Pierner said Aiken Tech plans to offer video-streaming of the lectures through the school's online Blackboard system within the year and expand it to include hands-on classes and labs within two years.