Kaltura

About Instructional Multimedia

There are a variety of video capture and editing options out there, and you are free to utilize any programs that you wish, though they may not be supported by our IT department. When creating multimedia content, always be sure to save videos as an .mp4 file, and audio files as an .mp3 file, to ensure that students can open your media.

At the Center for Teaching and Learning, we like to advocate for tools that are supported through the University of Maine System to ensure that you have as much troubleshooting support as possible. Kaltura is our System-supported video capture and publishing platform, which allows you to capture your webcam, screencast, or audio, and it includes simple editing tools and an interactive Quiz feature. To discover how Kaltura may solve your content deliver needs, please reach out to the Center for Teaching and Learning staff. If you run into issues downloading the Personal Capture Recorder or uploading video content, please contact the US:IT Helpdesk.

Video-enhanced instruction has skyrocketed in Higher Education, and while it has been used to supplement face-to-face instruction since the second world war, has become a cornerstone of student engagement in distance and blended modality courses. Including video in your instruction is a great and effective educational tool, because it activates both auditory and visual learning processes.

Whether you are considering which clips to show in your live class, you are looking at creating learning videos to flip your class (or supplement video-conference of blended learning), or your class is completely online and dependant on video as a primary content delivery tool, there are a few simple strategies to help you create and post content that will get the most bang for your time-investment buck.

And, if you want to check out more theory on how video content engages learners throughout the learning process, I recommend you check out Vanderbilt University’s Guidelines for Effective Education Videos

Your video persona is an extension of you, and in an online class, it is really the only exposure that your students get to you as the dynamic professor that you are! Don’t be afraid to be yourself, and use natural, conversational language that you would use with students in a live, face-to-face learning session. Follow these quick tips to hone your ‘naturally-camera-ready’ skills:

Make ‘eye-contact’ by looking directly at the camera.
Whenever possible, capture your webcam with your presentation or screenshot, to increase your social presence.
It doesn’t have to always be serious–have fun with your content, be enthusiastic… let student’s see why you love your content area.
You can write a script, but you don’t have to–an outline works well. After all, you don’t write a script for an in-person class, do you?
You don’t need a professionally produced video to engage students–you just need to be yourself.

There is a benefit to creating ‘evergreen’ videos–that is, videos that we can re-use semester-to-semester (because the content does not change), however, you can keep that content fresh with these strategies:

Be sure that the video you are presented is ‘made-for’ the environment it is being consumed in: is the video being made for a flipped learning experience, for an online course, or to be shown in class?
If you are re-using a video from a past semester in an online class, be sure to add some relevant context content so students feel this content is being curated for them.
Keep videos to-the-point. Be sure to include content, prompts, and information that is relevant to your learning goal that will help learners successfully complete your assessment.
Chunk your video content into smaller, more meaningful and targeted pieces of information for the greatest recall.

Whether you are considering which clips to show in your live class, you are looking at creating learning videos to flip your class, supplement blended learning, or your class is completely online and dependent on video as a primary content delivery tool, there are a few simple strategies to help you create and post content that will get the most bang for your time-investment buck.

What is your purpose? Consider the goals of your video–what learning outcomes is does it address, and what will students be able to do with the information gained from your video?
Be prepared–will you need to write a script? Will you need any props? Have everything ready in advance.
Consider your camera: does your webcam produce a good quality image? Do you need to find an external USB camera?
How’s your lighting? Good natural lighting is great, but if lighting is a challenge, consider consulting with CTL about lighting options.
How do you sound? A good microphone (even if it is a mic from a headset) is a great investment!
Don’t be afraid to practice. You can upload videos to Kaltura, and no one will see them until you publish them in a class–make as many mistakes as you need to feel comfortable, and call CTL for help before you get frustrated!

There are a few ways that you can increase and assess student engagement on your educational videos, let’s look at a few:

Keep it short! Chunk your video content into shorter (6-10 minute) segments, which are more engaging than a 40–60-minute lecture
Create a set of guided questions that students can access before they view the video
Integrate questions into a video using Kaltura’s “Quiz” feature–use these questions less as an assessment, and more as a tool to chunk information and formatively assess student understanding.
Incorporate chapters or segments into your videos, to give students more autonomy with how they move through and review your content.
Use videos to directly support assignments and/or tests–you can include videos (or video clips) within assignment instructions, as well as in individual test questions on Brightspace.

Getting Started with Kaltura Tutorials

Step 1: Become Familiar with Personal Capture

Welcome to Personal Capture, the software that allows you to capture your webcam, presentation, and/or screencast for display in your classes and more. This overview will give you a brief intro to Personal Capture.

Step 2: Download Personal Capture