integrating audio & video into learn@uw

Goals: This session will cover issues related to integrating downloadable and streamed audio/video clips into Learn@UW. We will discuss the types of formats which can be added, recommendations for the types of formats, and the procedures for adding clips into content.

  1. Delivery Issues
  2. Using the Content Tool
  3. Using the QuickLink / HTML Editor
  4. Help Desk Documentation
  5. Exercise

delivery issues

Downloaded Content

The first way of delivering audio and video inside Learn@UW is to upload these clips into a Learn@UW course and have users download the content to their computer. A technology called progressive download delivers content while the file is downloaded. However, with progressive downloads, media quality may need to be sacrificed to ensure playback isn't choppy.

(See Methods & Formats of Delivery lesson for further information)

Streamed Content

The other method for audio and video content delivery is to use the DoIT Streaming Servers. Using this model, media content is placed on a separate Streaming server and reference files (pointers) are created or added inside Learn@UW. Streaming technologies allow students to watch video as it is being delivered. No file is actually downloaded to the student workstation. Within Learn@UW, there are still issues with delivering some video formats to users inside Learn@UW. See the exercise and helpdesk documents for recommended delivery formats.

(See Methods & Formats of Delivery lesson for further information)

using the content tool

There are two ways to make content available in Learn@UW. The first way is to create a Topic link to a video clip. The second way is to create a new topic file that includes an embedded link to the video clip. This second method is recommended for stability and performance. This method also allows for the annotation of a video clip and provides any additional links to download supporting media players, in the event students do not have them installed.

Creating a Topic Link

Creating a topic link is the easier and quickest method of making content available. The only known issue, at this time, with this method has to do with QuickTime QuickTime files linked in this manner have been known to not play correctly with some browsers -- playing the audio track without displaying the video content. If QuickTime is being used, it is strongly recommended that the embedded link method below be used.

  1. Enter the Content Tool.
  2. Click Add Topic.
  3. Click Link.
  4. Choose the Module to which this topic will be added.
  5. Enter a Title, which will appear in the Table of Content.
  6. Enter a Short Title, which will appear in the side menu.
  7. Click on the Quick Link icon to the right of the URL box.
  8. Choose Course File from the Category menu.
  9. Click Browse to locate the movie clip.
  10. Click Insert.
  11. Click Save.

Creating a Topic with Embedded Link

Creating a topic is the recommended method of making content available. This is done by creating a new HTML file and embedding a link to the video clip(s). This file will be displayed in the Content tool and the videos will play within the screen, in most cases.

  1. Enter the Content Tool.
  2. Click Add Topic.
  3. Click Create New File.
  4. Choose the Module to which this topic will be added.
  5. Enter a Title, which will appear in the Table of Content.
  6. Enter a Short Title, which will appear in the side menu.
  7. To make an embedded link to a movie, click the Insert Object button.
  8. Choose Course Object if the movie clip already resides in a course.
  9. Choose Upload Object if the movie clip needs to be uploaded to a course. Select the file and upload.
  10. Choose the Object Type that corresponds to the type of movie file to be used.
  11. Click Browse to locate the movie clip.
  12. Enter the Height and Width of the movie clip.
  13. Click Show Controls to have the play, rewind, fast forward, pause buttons appear.
  14. Click Auto Play to have the movie clip play automatically after the page has been loaded.
  15. Click Insert.
  16. Add any further annotations to the file.
  17. Click Save.
  18. Specify a title and location
  19. Click Save.

Creating a URL Link

When streaming a Windows Media file from the DoIT Streaming server, a URL link to the file using a MMS protocol can be created.

  • Enter the Content Tool.
  • Click Add Link.
  • Click Create New File.
  • Choose the Module to which this topic will be added.
  • Enter a Title, which will appear in the Table of Content.
  • Enter a Short Title, which will appear in the side menu.
  • To create a URL link, enter the address in the URL box.
  • The URL will be
    MMS: //winstreamer.doit.wisc.edu/ accountname/folder/filename
  • Click Save.

using the quicklink / html editor

While the Content tool is the most common location for video content to be delivered, the QuickLink and HTML tools are also available throughout Learn@UW. Whether adding a Calendar item, a News item, a Quiz question, a dropbox assignment, grade feedback or discussion topic, access to the these two tools is available. This means links can be made to video content wherever it makes sense. When creating in a text entry area, an icon for the HTML editor should appear. Clicking that will open the editor up and allow one to either embed a movie or make a QuickLink to the movie.

help desk documentation

The DoIT HelpDesk has a number of resources on using Learn@UW. This document attempts to summarize known issues and recommend solutions for using video in Learn@UW and is intended for instructors or staff creating video content.

exercise

  1. Create WebDAV Connection to Learn@UW
  2. Create WebDAV Connection to Streaming Server
  3. Create a Module in Learn@UW
  4. Step-by-Step Delivery Methods
    1. QuickTime
      Progressive Download - Embedded
      Streaming - Embedded (Ref Mov)
    2. Real Media
      Download - Linked
      Streaming - RAM
    3. Windows Media
      Progressive Download - Embedded (Windows only)
      Streaming - Embedded (MMS)

Create a WebDAV Connection to Learn@UW Server

  1. Double-click on My Computer.
  2. Double-click on My Network Places.
  3. Select Add a Network Place. The "Add Network Place Wizard" will appear. Click Next.
  4. Select Choose another network location, and click Next.
  5. Enter (see handout for path to L@UW) and click Next.
    • <CoursePath> refers to any directories under the Content directory to which the user has access. The best way to find this path is by clicking Edit Course.
    • Use login info provided on handout
  6. Copy Download and/or Ref files from desktop into the course files area on Learn@UW.

Create a WebDAV Connection & Copy Needed Files to a Streaming Server

  1. Double-click on My Computer.
  2. Double-click on My Network Places.
  3. Select Add a Network Place. The "Add Network Place Wizard" will appear. Click Next.
  4. Select Choose another network location, and click Next.
  5. Enter (see below for path to servers) and click Next.
    • <CourseDirectory> refers to directory you are assigned by instructor.
    • Use login info provided on handout

Right Click below listed files and move Streaming and/or Ref files from desktop into your assigned directory on the streaming server.

Streaming Server info

QuickTime streaming server
WebDAV address: https://mediastreamer2.doit.wisc.edu/qtss
streaming_256kb.mov
Real Media streaming server
WebDAV address: https://mediastreamer.doit.wisc.edu/realmedia (note there is no "2")
streaming_256kb.rm
Windows Media streaming server
WebDAV address: https://mediastreamer2.doit.wisc.edu/winmedia
streaming_256kb.wmv

Create a Module

  1. Log in to Learn@UW and enter course (see handout for login info).
  2. Click on Content.
  3. Click on Manage Content, and then click on the Add Module icon.
  4. Give the module a Title (e.g., QuickTime) and Save. Repeat for Windows or Real as necessary.

File-type Specific

QuickTime - Progressive - Download - Embedded

  1. Create a Topic as a New File.
  2. Give this new file a Title.
  3. Click on Insert Object, select Course Object.
  4. Select Video - QuickTime object type.
  5. Browse for the correct QuickTime file (download_256kb.mov) in the Learn@UW Course directory.
  6. Enter the Height and Width of the movie.
    1. To find the height and width in QuickTime, open the movie file and select Movie | Get Movie Properties| Size.
    2. Note that the convention for video sizes is "width" x "height" (e.g. 320 wide x 240 high) in L@UW is reversed.
  7. Select Show Controls and/or Auto Play if desired.
    1. Note that if Show Controls is selected, the height will need to be increased by 16 pixels to accommodate the player controls.
  8. Click Insert.
  9. Enter any other text on this page if desired. Click Save when finished. The application will ask to Save this new html file with the embedded movie.

QuickTime - Streaming - Embedded (Ref Movie)

Creating a QuickTime Ref Movie

Creating a Topic

  1. Create a Topic as a New File.
  2. Give this new file a Title.
  3. Click on Insert Object, select Course Object.
  4. Select Video - QuickTime object type.
  5. Browse for the correct QuickTime ref file (ref.mov) in the Learn@UW Course directory. This points to file on QuickTime server.
    Note: the ref movie points to the streaming file but does not reveal the path of the streamed file to users.
    Note: if using ref movie, need to change this text file in Notepad to include user directory info -- see below.
  6. Enter the Height and Width of the movie.
    1. To find the height and width in QuickTime, open the movie file and select Movie | Get Movie Properties | Size.
    2. Note that the convention for video sizes is "width" x "height" (e.g. 320 wide x 240 high) in L@UW is reversed.
  7. Select Show Controls and/or Auto Play if desired.
    1. Note that if Show Controls is selected, the height will need to be increased by 16 pixels to accommodate the player controls.
  8. Click Insert
  9. Enter any other text on this page if desired. Click Save when finished. The application will ask to Save this new html file with the embedded movie.

RealMedia - Download - Linked

  1. Create a Topic as a Course File.
  2. Give this object a Title .
  3. Browse for the correct RealMedia file (download_256kb.rm) .
  4. Click Save.

RealMedia - Streaming - Linked

  1. Create a Topic as a Course File.
  2. Give this object a Title.
  3. Browse for the correct Real Meta file (real.ram) this points to file on the RealMedia server.
  4. Click Save.
  5. Create a RAM file.
  6. Open local ram file in text editor and change path to include the full course path and directory / file name
  7. Enter

  8. Choose File | Save.

Windows Media - Progressive Download - Embedded (Windows Users only)

  1. Create a Topic as a New File.
  2. Give this new file a Title.
  3. Click on Insert Object, select Course Object.
  4. Select Video - Windows Media object type.
  5. Browse for the correct Windows Media file (download_256kb.wmv) in the Learn@UW course directory.
  6. Enter the Height and Width of the movie
    1. To find the height and width in Windows Media, right click on the file and select Properties (PC).
    2. Note that the convention for video sizes is "width" x "height" (e.g. 320 wide x 285 high) in L@UW is reversed.
  7. Select Show Controls and/or Auto Play if desired.
    • Note that if Show Controls is selected, the height will need to be increased by 45 pixels to accommodate the player controls.
  8. Click Insert.
  9. Enter any other text on this page if desired. Click Save when finished. The application will ask to Save this new html file with the embedded movie.

Windows Media - Streaming - Embedded (mms://)

In a text editor, such as NotePad, WordPad, or TextEdit, Paste the following code into the editor:

 
  1. You can add Save the file as .html To add additional text, you may want to code in an application like Macromedia Dreamweaver.
  2. Now, in Learn@UW, upload the file you created to Course Files. To avoid breaking the code, do not open the file in the html editor.
  3. Create a Topic as a Course File.
  4. Give this object a Title, browse for the html file, and Save.