Video Assignments: Managing large submission files Chris Boon

Background Electronic submission developed for BTEC courses Being used across curriculum areas

The problem Can we use this to hand in videos?

The scenario Level 2 Childcare course Design an active assessment which would meet these criteria P5: Demonstrate understanding of how to interact and communicate with adults P6: Describe a policy in a child care setting that concerns confidentiality and the sharing of information M4: Explain why it is important to have a policy with respect to confidentiality and the sharing of information in a child-care setting

The assignment Working in groups of three make a video of one of these scenarios: Telling a parent their child has nits Dealing with a parent who needs a phone number Witnessing an accident outside the childcare setting

The solution: #1 Use the existing Blackboard Assignment tool

The results: #1 Poor user experience for students uploading large video files Lecturer did not have space to download large video files Blackboard course archives became very large!

The solution: #2 Students still upload videos to Blackboard using Assignment tool Once the due date has passed ILT Team uploads on bulk to college video system Lecturer watches videos on video system Assignment files removed from Blackboard to save space

The video system Planet eStream launched at CCN

The video uploads Use Assignment File Download in Grade Centre Bulk upload videos to eStream with common name tag – course ID Make videos private to the lecturer

Watching the videos

The tidy up Use Assignment File Cleanup in Grade Centre

The results: #2 Poor user experience for students uploading large video files Much easier for lecturer to watch videos, but not tracked to specific student Course archives no longer growing Needs manual process from ILT Team

The solution: #3 Students upload video to eStream Students use MashUp tool to add video to Assignment Lecturer watches video directly in Grade Centre

The solution: #3 Students upload video to eStream

The solution: #3 Students upload video to eStream

The solution: #3 Students use MashUp tool to add video to Assignment

The solution: #3 Students use MashUp tool to add video to Assignment

The solution: #3 Students use MashUp tool to add video to Assignment

The fix Embed code needed to be white listed in Safe HTML Filter Go to System Admin > Safe HTML Filters > Safe HTML Filter for Content Editor Download default-policy.xml; add line:

The solution: #3 Lecturer watches video directly in Grade Centre

The results: #3 Much better user experience for students; upload shows progress bar Much easier for lecturer to watch videos, and now clearly linked to student Large videos not stored on Blackboard No assistance needed from ILT Team

The lecturer feedback Marking process was very simple Although 85% of students have a smart phone (May 2013) some borrowed flip cams for better quality Students used Microsoft Movie Maker to add music, transitions, titles etc

The lecturer feedback Students with less confidence could make audio recordings or use visual aids Self-selected groups allowed lecturer to get to know group dynamics of new class Blackboard was invaluable in managing submissions – 148 students in year group

The lecturer feedback Students enjoyed the assignment – fun ‘ice breaker’ first task – happier to complete subsequent written tasks Students complained about eStream but actually enjoyed it more than written task in previous year Students learnt technical skills: useful life skills about video recording and editing

The improvements Give a time limit for videos – some took too long to mark! Don’t assume ‘digital natives’ know about video editing – more guidance needed on file formats, sizes etc Try Group Assignments to avoid duplicated uploads

Questions Chris