FAQs for Recording and Handling Online Video

This is a bit longer post, but we wanted to provide this information for those of you working on media for the new semester.

Planning on recording content for the spring semester? These responses to the more popular questions will hopefully curb a few common issues that come up throughout the semester.

How long will my videos stay in Kaltura?

The videos will only disappear if you leave the university. If you are leaving and this is a video used by your department or other colleagues, you can always pass ownership to other people to keep the video. Otherwise, they will continue to exist in Kaltura, and the links do not change.

Where do I edit my Kaltura videos?

You can edit uploaded videos in Kaltura by logging into Kaltura.iu.edu, clicking the video, and beneath the video there is an “Actions” drop down menu to the right. Click that and go to “Launch Editor” towards the bottom of the list. This editor is very basic and will allow you to do most edits except for combining two videos together. You can find a tutorial video on the Keep Teaching website.

Can I download my videos from Kaltura?

Yes. You can download them by logging into kaltura.iu.edu and clicking on your name in the top right and selecting My Media. Next, click the pencil icon to the right of the video you want to download, go to the Downloads tab, check the box next to Source File, and click Save. Now, if you scroll to the top and click “Back to Media Page”, you should see a Download tab under the video. Clicking the download icon to the right of “Source File” will give you the original video.

I want to edit my videos BEFORE I upload them to Kaltura. How do I do this?

The simplest way to do this is to use Zoom to record your videos and, after clicking the record button, select the “Record to this computer” option. These recordings will appear by date in your Documents > Zoom folder. All of the MP4 files here will be your recorded footage. These files can be edited by any video editing software.

How do I navigate copyrights when using video for my online course?

This boils down to how limited the use is of the copyrighted material. In general, follow these guidelines to adhere to “fair use” rules:

• Trim the full copywritten material down by grabbing a clip or series of clips you really want to show, as opposed to showing the whole thing.
• Prevent students from being able to download a copy of the material to keep as their own. In Kaltura, the default settings are that students cannot download videos, so you don’t have to change any settings for this one.
• Only provide access to the material when it is needed and remove it after the use for it has passed.

Using Zoom’s Share Screen option (with the “Record Computer Sound” option on), you can play back a video for a synchronous class. If your class meets asynchronously, you can simply record the meeting. You can change the Zoom meeting settings to prevent a person from recording using Zoom on their end as well. Once a clip has been embedded into Canvas, you can further limit access by locking the Module containing the video until the viewing date.

Also see the clarity statement on Fair Use law.

How long should my videos be?

Videos should be “short.” What we do know is that around 10-12 minutes students’ attention spans drop off at a very steep rate. Soon after that, you are speaking to about 20% of the class. Do your best to segment videos around topics or subtopics, knowing where attention rates will drop off. If you need more time than this, try adding a built-in activity around this time point to act as a mental break and a refresher for viewers.

How can I make my videos interactive?

Refer to our blog on Encouraging Student Engagement with Video.

How do I give others access to my video without using Canvas?

This can be done in a couple of ways. After uploading the video to Kaltura, you’ll want to find it under “My Media,” click the edit icon (Pencil) to the right of the video thumbnail, and:

• select the “Publish” tab. Make sure that the dot next to “Unlisted” is filled in and click save if it wasn’t already filled in. This will allow anyone with the link to watch the video.
• select the “Collaboration” tab. Here, you can click “+ Add Collaborator,” start typing their username to find them, and check all 3 boxes below before clicking “Add.” This will give a person the ability to edit, publish, and share the video as you would.

Where can I find royalty free music?

Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod) has an extensive library of music from which to choose. There are paid and unpaid options for using his music.

YouTube has a music commons full of possibilities. Each video will typically have a link to a download in their descriptions. While this is a nice resource, it is admittedly a bit convoluted to get to the actual download.

General tips for recording:

• Exaggerate – For various reasons, we can sometimes come across as dry or having a “muted” personality when being recorded. This could be nerves or just the disconnect that is inherent in not being in front of your audience as you’re used to. The trick, as silly as it might sound at first, is to overact your personality a bit. I’m not suggesting being hyperactive, but to slightly exaggerate your natural inflections and hand gestures. This helps highlight your character/presence and minimizes that disconnect.
• Speak Clearly and Slowly – The real gem in doing this is that the auto-captioning is decently accurate when a person takes their time and enunciates. Some students enjoy watching videos with captions and audio even though they do not have disability needs. This aids in reinforcing what is being said. While there is a tendency to read from a script or PowerPoint, speaking in a conversational tone has proven far more effective with learners.
• Recording Environment – Test your microphone beforehand to make sure your voice is coming in clearly, and ensure that you have a quiet space in which to record. Shut animals out if they are constant distractors. Try to keep your light sources in front of you, not behind; in front of you or up to 45 degrees off to one side or the other works well. A pre-check will save you the trouble of having to re-record everything if there is an equipment malfunction.
• Clothing vs Technology – Pinstripes and plaid patterns which have very little space in between the lines tend to produce a “trippy” effect on most cameras and are another distractor that is easily avoidable but usually not noticed until after recording. If you are going to use a digital background, ensure that the area behind you is as close to being one solid color as you can get (i.e. no furniture or decorations, just a blank wall) or consider hanging a sheet as a backdrop. And try to wear a very contrasting color from that background. This makes it easier for the software to differentiate between you and the areas to be “green-screened” and replaced with the virtual background.

 

For any further questions or assistance regarding working with videos at IU, feel free to contact Matt Barton.