Blackboard 9: Build Content:Create: Video

From TeachToolsWiki

1 Video
2 About Video Files
3 Video File Options
4 Item Availability
5 Tracking
6 Date and Time Restrictions
7 Where can I get help?

Video

Select a video to show on the page. The video player will appear directly on the page. Set the height and width options to display the video at the right size, and include a transcript for those that cannot see or hear the video. When uploading an MPEG file, you have the option of including a SAMI transcript file. Otherwise, use a separate text file in the same folder to provide a transcript for the video.

About Video Files

When creating video files, it is a good idea to include links to any browser plug-ins or media player files that users will need to view the media. Compatible multimedia formats include: MPEG/AVI: MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Groups) files are audio-visual files in a digital compressed format. AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is Microsoft’s file format for storing audio and video data. These files have the following extensions: .avi, .mpg, .mpeg Quick Time: QuickTime is a video and animation system that supports most formats, including JPG and MPEG. Users with a PC will require a QuickTime driver to view QuickTime files. Macintosh users do not require this driver. These files have the following extensions: .mov, .qt Flash/Shockwave: Adobe Flash and Shockwave files support audio, animation, and video. They are browser independent. These files have the following extensions: .swa, .swf

Video File Options

The size of the video window should be set in pixels. The default width is 320 pixels and the default height is 240 pixels. Each video file will have a native size. Check the video file properties for the native size, and then use a size to display the video that maintains the height-to-width ratio of the native size. For example, if the video file normally displays at 800x400, you can change it to 400x200 to fit the page. If you change the size to 900x300, the video will appear distorted because the ratio is no longer the same. Select AutoStart to begin playing the file as soon as the link is clicked, or allow the user to start the file using the controls. Select to Loop the file so that it plays over and over, or play the file once.

Item Availability

Select No to restrict users from viewing the video file. This will make the video file unavailable from this location. It will not affect the availability of the video file if it can be accessed another way, such as through the Content Collection or in another folder. For example, if a video file is added to a folder from Course Files and made unavailable, the video file would not appear in that folder. However, the video file could appear in a different folder if another link to it was available.

Tracking

To turn on Tracking Statistics for the video file, select Yes for Track Number of Views. Tracking Statistics will record the number of times that the video file is opened as well as when and by whom it is opened.

Date and Time Restrictions

Files can be set to display at a specific date and time and to be hidden at a specific date and time. Date and time restrictions do not affect content availability, only the appearance of the content in the folder.