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Moodle Help Guide

Adding Video Content to Your Moodle Course

Pre-recorded video: Whether you are creating original video, or embedding content from YouTube or other web services, we recommend using Kaltura and the "My Media" section of Moodle as your home base.

Live video: If you want to use Zoom to run a virtual live class session, or to incorporate students participating remotely, we recommend you use Moodle’s Zoom plugin. This will make the meeting available to all of the students in your course without you having to issue individual invitations. Here is more information on using Zoom in Moodle (from our colleagues at UMass).

Interactive video: You can create interactive videos in Moodle using H5P. It's as simple as filling out a form! For more information and a quick show-and-tell, get in touch with the EdTech team.

What is Kaltura?

Kaltura logo

Kaltura is Mount Holyoke’s video creation, storage, and management platform. 

Access Kaltura via any of these options:

  • the “My Media” tab in Moodle
  • the web portal at kaltura.mtholyoke.edu 
  • from classroom podium computers
  • (access via mobile app will also soon be available)

Kaltura allows you to

  • record new video with a single or double video input (ex. your camera and your screen, your laptop camera and an external camera)
  • upload existing video directly from a file, YouTube or Zoom)
  • search across all your videos, including metadata (title, description, tags) AND spoken text and written text from within the video
  • edit your video, including adding chapters, thumbnails, transcript and auto captions, screen layout
  • add quiz questions throughout the videos to confirm student understanding
  • allow for comments, giving students an opportunity for asynchronous discussion and to ask questions tied to a particular part of the video
  • easily embed the finished product in your Moodle course

Adding A Kaltura Video Resource

Once you have created your video content and added it to Kaltura, the most straightforward way to add it to your course is as a Kaltura Video Resource. We recommend you use this method whenever possible, rather than embedding the video player; the latter can slow down a student's Moodle experience, especially if there are any issues with their internet connection. The result will be a link to a video player, with a small video icon next to it. It looks like this:

What the Kaltura Video Resource link looks like

The text of the link is the title of the resource.

To add a video resource, first turn editing on in your Moodle course, by clicking the grey button to blue in the upper right-hand corner of page. Then click add activity or resource at bottom of a section OR hover between existing activities and you will see a plus sign (+) appear in the middle of the screen.  Click on that to add a resource or activity. Scroll down to select "Kaltura Video Resource" from the list of options:

At this point, you'll want to enter in a name for the video, and then click on "Add Media." A new window will pop up, select the "Embed" button next to the video you wish to add. Once you've done so, that additional window will close and you'll be redirected back to the video resource page; click on "Save and Display."

Using Kaltura in Forums and Feedback

Anywhere you are able to use the text editor in Moodle, such as in Forum posts, the Wiki, etc, you have access to the Kaltura Media button, which looks like a starburst, in the text editor window. This will bring up your Kaltura Media and give you both the chance to add new media in a separate window if you need to, and/or embed media you have uploaded in the content you are working on.

Faculty also see this button when providing feedback on a Moodle Assignment, and can append video feedback for a specific student if needed.

Adding Video Feedback to Assignments

If you would like to provide video feedback on student assignments, you can use Kaltura to do so from directly within the grading interface. Here's how!

  1. First, please navigate to the assignment page, and click "Grade" to open the grading interface.
  2. You will see the student submission on the left, and a feedback area on the right. Locate the text feedback area, and find the Kaltura button  (looks like a pinwheel, or a firework) in the menu above it. 
  3. Click on that button. A new tab or window will open with your My Media content. 

     

  4. In the Kaltura window, choose "Add New" (if your window is very narrow, this may appear as just a "+" button) and from the drop-down menu, select "Express Capture".
  5. Record your video feedback for this assignment. After you hit the square stop button to end the recording, the video will automatically play back for you.
  6. When you're satisfied, choose the "Use This" button below the video preview.
  7. Give your video a few moments to upload. When the video is ready to save, you will see a green box with the words "Upload Completed!'" appear. Give your video a descriptive title (including the assignment name, and the student name) so you can find it through your My Media later.
  8. Choose "Save and Embed."
  9. From your perspective, your video will appear as a text link in the feedback box.  At this point, please make sure to save your work!
  10. Where you see a link, your student will see your video embedded on the assignment page, along with their grade.

Final student view:

Kaltura Media Assignments

If you would like students to create and share video content as an assignment, there is a Kaltura tool designed to enable just that! It's called Kaltura Media Assignment, and when it's set up in your Moodle course it looks like this:

The text of the link is the title of the assignment.

Setting Up A Media Assignment

Turn editing on in your Moodle course by clicking the grey button to blue in the upper right-hand corner of page, and navigate to the appropriate location for your assignment. Click add activity or resource at bottom of a section OR hover between existing activities and you will see a plus sign (+) appear in the middle of the screen. Click on that to add a resource or activity and select "Kaltura Media Assignment."

At this point, you'll want to enter in a name for the assignment, and any instructions you have for your students. You may also wish to set assignment due dates and manage grading, just as you would with a typical Moodle assignment. Once you've made your selections, click on "Save and Return to Course."

Student View

When a student clicks on a Kaltura Media Assignment link, they see an interface that is similar in look and feel to a regular assignment. Any instructions you have included in the assignment will appear at the top as a description, and a box will appear below, prompting students to add a new media submission. When this is clicked, a new window will pop up, and the student should select the "Embed" button next to the video they wish to add. Once they've done so, that additional window will close and they'll be redirected back to the assignment page; click to submit.

 

Grading

To grade a Kaltura Media Assignment, click on the link to the assignment from the front page or appropriate section of your Moodle course, and then select "Grade submissions."