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Kaltura Streaming Media Server 

Kaltura is a web-hosted streaming media service for NAU. A streaming media server works kind of like an NAU managed version of YouTube (but with more privacy options), with recording, basic editing, and playback capabilities.

You can access Kaltura either from inside Bb Learn (see below) or from the Mediaspace website (skip ahead).

Option 1: via Blackboard Learn

Note: You can request that Cline Library make any of their licensed video assets available in Kaltura so that you can embed them in your Bb Learn course.

A. Access Kaltura: From the Course Content area in your Bb Learn course, with Edit Mode turned on, you can access Kaltura in any of these ways:

    1. Build Content/Kaltura Media
    2. Tools/Kaltura Media
    3. From anywhere that you can use the text editor, select Mashups/Kaltura Media

mashup

You will be passed to Kaltura's "My Media" page, which contains media items you have previously recorded or uploaded, and you can search or browse for shared media created by others.

B. Install Kaltura Capture on your computer, or install the KMS Go app on your mobile (iOS or Android) device by searching for it at the app store.

    1. Kaltura Capture: Click the + Add New button in the upper right, and select Kaltura Capture. If it's not already installed, you will be prompted to install the app. There are versions for both Mac and Windows.

add new

If Kaltura Capture is installed, the app will open and you'll see a screen like this one.

capture

The app allows you to record any combination of:

To select which tools are active during recording, click on the tool to enable/disable it.

Hit the big red button to start/stop recording, and then upload the video to the server when you're done.

C: Captions: Make your videos more accessible by adding closed captions. You'll need to do this from the mediaspace.nau.edu site (see below).

At NAU, the Usable Materials Center at Disability Resources handles high quality captioning requests, but you can also Order Captions for free from the Actions menu, using a machine algorithm called Cielo24, which gets you quick results and about 80-90% accuracy. DR can also improve upon the machine captions by request.

actions

D: Sharing: When uploading media, it's important that you add meaningful tags (keywords) to your video so you can find it later when searching. You can upload, but will not be able to Publish a media item until you have added some of these metadata tags. If you first upload a media item without adding any tags or description, it will be either Private or Unlisted. You can return later and Edit the item, adding tags and a description. You have several sharing options on content you upload:

E: Publishing: When you Publish your media, you have the option to put it in a Category or a Channel. Note: If you don't have a channel, you will need to create one. Otherwise, the Publish option won't be available. Channels give you more privacy options than Categories.

publish

i. Categories: Sometimes referred to as "galleries," Categories are public facing, so this option should generally not be used except by Marketing, public performances, or for items you want to be available to the general public. Be extra-careful about copyright and FERPA guidelines if making your media public!

ii. Channels: Channels can be privacy-restricted in a variety of ways. Only people with access to that channel can view it. You can set restrictions on channels you own from the Actions/Edit menu. Channels have the following access options:

Channel Options: These options allow you to control who can put media in a channel, and who can comment on it.

Channel Membership:

To add members to a private channel, edit the channel, click on the Members tab, and click the Add Member button. You will need to know their NAU IDs. If you need to look someone up, you can use the Bb Learn course roster, or you can do a people search in my.nau.edu.

members

Playlists: A playlist is a list of media items (videos, audios, images) that can be embedded with a player in your website. While Playlist sounds like a useful way to distribute media, Channel is the recommended option. You can make as many channels as you like, and set permissions differently on each channel.

Option 2: via the MediaSpace website

Login: To log into MediaSpace, open the link (mediaspace.nau.edu) in your web browser, and log in using the menu in the upper right. Use your NAU credentials.

Note: This interface is available only to faculty and staff.

login

Add New: You can add media from one of these sources: 

    1. Media Upload: browse for a media file on your computer (most common media file types are supported or use the KMS Go app to record or upload from your Apple or Android phone or tablet. (You can request that Cline Library make any of their video assets available in Kaltura.)
    2. Kaltura Capture: the Kaltura Capture application must be downloaded and installed the first time you use it. There are versions for both Mac and Windows.

add new

If you select Kaltura Capture, the app will open and you'll see a screen like this one.

capture

This tool allows you to record any combination of:

To select which tools are active during recording, click on the tool to enable/disable it.

Hit the big red button to start/stop recording, and then upload the video to the server when you're done.

Analytics: Open any video in your collection. From the Actions menu, you can access the analytics on the video to see who's watching it, for how long they watched, when they watched, etc.

Note that there is also an Editor with some basic functions such as cropping.

analytics

Best Practices: Lessons and Activities that can make good use of video

What are some suggested instructional uses of video? The best uses involve short video clips, both because attention spans are short, and because brief videos take up less space. Videos are most effective if they are engaging, well rehearsed, and brief. TED talks are a good example. Studies show, and our analytics confirm it, that most people stop watching after less than five minutes. If you have a longer video, it's a good idea to break it up into shorter segments and embed assessments or other activities in between.

Instructor Uses:

    1. Instructor Welcome Message: Introduce yourself to your students with an "About your instructor" page in your course. This is especially nice in a fully online course, to help it feel more personal.
    2. Lecture Introduction: Give a brief big picture introduction to the lecture that explains its importance or relevance.
    3. Lecture Review: Provide a review of the most important point(s) covered in lecture that students will be tested on.
    4. Difficult Concept: Provide a detailed video on a difficult topic that many students find confusing.
    5. Case Studies/Scenarios: Show students videos that you'd like them to comment on, as a prompt for discussion.
    6. Sample Problems: Work through some sample problems step by step.
    7. PowerPoint Annotation: record a voice annotation of your PowerPoint slides.
    8. Invited Speaker: create an archive of guest lectures by invited speakers.
    9. Examples: Share the work of a past student to give an example of an exemplary effort.
    10. Lecture Capture: not the best use, because raw footage is dry and non-interactive, but may be of value in some cases, such as for students who missed class.

Student Uses: Anyplace where the Bb Learn editor is available, a student can create a recording using the Mashups/Kaltura Media option, and either upload a video shot on their phone or camera, or create one using the Kaltura Capture app.

    1. Student Presentations: Instead of PowerPoint, or in addition to it, have students record themselves doing a presentation on their research project.
    2. Debates: Set up debates where each student is assigned a pro or con position on a controversial topic and presents a five minute argument.
    3. Discussions: Especially effective in language classes, students can speak their discussion posts rather than type them.
    4. Role Play: Have students act out a case study or scenario to which other students can react.
    5. Lab Work: Have your students record themselves while conducting an offline experiment or lab activity to document the process.
    6. Performances: record exceptional student performances as a model of quality work to show to future students. Ideal for a music class!
    7. Public Service Announcements: Have students make PSAs on important topics, such as vaccination, or recycling, or staying on trails, or wearing your mask.

Terms of Use:

The NAU Network Acceptable Use Policies for Faculty/Staff and Students governs the use of the Kaltura System. Additional terms of use indicated below also apply. Any materials in violation of these policies may be removed without notice and, depending on the nature of the violation, the individual who uploaded the content may be subject to disciplinary or legal action by NAU or the injured party. The following is an overview of types of content that could be in violation of the Use Policies.

Media Release

Please review NAU's FERPA policy before posting any video or audio recording involving students. If the recording was made in a non-public setting, or if students are required to participate as part of their grade in a class, then media releases will be necessary. If the recording is intended to be shared more broadly than with members of the current class, media release forms must be signed by all participants and archived by the producer of the media. In the case of minors, releases must be signed by parent/guardian. Students who do not sign the media release must be excerpted from the published media.

Copyright

Except as allowed by Educational Fair Use and/or Teach Act guidelines, users are not permitted to upload any media for which they do not own the copyright or have permission of the copyright holder. Cline Library staff can assist you with copyrighted content covered under NAU's licenses, and with general copyright questions.

Objectionable Content

Content should be appropriate for posting on an NAU server, and should serve an academic/instructional or NAU marketing/public relations purpose. Any content deemed inappropriate or detrimental to Northern Arizona University, at the discretion of the administrators of this system, may be taken down without notice. Exceptions to these policies will be considered where there is a justifiable educational purpose that cannot be met in other ways. You may report objectionable content for review by system administrators.

Accessibility 

Media should have closed captions or a text transcript equivalent. Requests for making video content accessible may be made by completing the Usable Materials Request Form. Questions may be directed to usable.materials@nau.edu or 928-523-8773. Or, if machine captioning is good enough, it's free and only takes a few minutes using the Order Captions button from the Kaltura Actions menu.

Copying and Distribution

Media on this server, except where it is made public, is for the use of NAU faculty, staff and students only. Attempting to defeat copy protection is prohibited. Copying of media stored on this system is prohibited. Distribution of media stored on this system is prohibited.