video assignments: managing large submission files chris boon
TRANSCRIPT
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 adultsP6: 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:
<regexp value="http[s]?://estream.ccn.ac.uk/.*" />
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