Kaltura in Blackboard

Syracuse University has integrated Kaltura into Blackboard. Kaltura allows instructors and learners to add or embed rich media content to their courses including in assignments, discussions, and more.

Information for Course Instructors

Add Kaltura Content to Your Course

Rich multimedia content (e.g. videos, PowerPoints, movies, video quizzes, etc.) can be placed directly into your Blackboard course area. Content can be uploaded directly through Blackboard and posted or re-posted in any area of your Blackboard courses. Content uploaded through the Kaltura Media Space is also available for posting in your courses. Below you will learn how to post a video using the Text Editor in Blackboard or using the Build Content area.

You can upload videos or include previously uploaded videos in any text area in Blackboard including content items, assignments, and discussion boards.

In any text area, use the expand button (
) to expand the full tool palette.
Click the plus button (
) and select “Kaltura Media”
Choose from the four options: My Media, Media Gallery, Shared Repository, and Media Gallery Playlists to add content you have already uploaded to the Kaltura MediaSpace.
1. If you would like to add new content, click the Add New (
  ) button and choose from the available options.
Once you have the media you would like to add, click the Embed (
) button.
You’ll be returned to the text area with a yellow box representing the location of the video. You can add text above and below it as you wish or you can use the mashup button to add additional videos in the same text window

In a content area, learning module, lesson plan, or folder, select Build Content to access the menu.
Under Mashups choose Kaltura Media.
Choose from the four options: My Media, Media Gallery, Shared Repository, and Media Gallery Playlists to add content you have already uploaded to the Kaltura MediaSpace.
1. If you would like to add new content, click the Add New (
  ) button and choose from the available options.
Once you have the media you would like to add, click the Embed (
) button.
You will be presented with the Create Mashup Item screen where you will need to input content information. Follow the on-screen instructions and then click Submit.

While the Video Quiz option is available, it is recommended that you use PlayPosit for your interactive video creation. Additional information about using PlayPosit is available on the PlayPosit home page.

Kaltura Media Retention Policy

Kaltura is designed as a streaming platform for active media content. Each entry remains in the system for four years from the last time was played for at least 30 seconds or, if never played, from the date it was uploaded.

Accessing Kaltura My Media from the Blackboard Homepage

Kaltura’s My Media is a private, personal library of media created or uploaded by the user. The My Media area allows instructors to manage (add, create, delete, edit, and publish) their media from one location.

Closed-Captioning

Machine captioning is performed automatically on all videos uploaded to Kaltura My Media (video.syr.edu or through Blackboard). This process uses automatic machine generated transcription (ASR) that recognizes the words spoken in your video and provides machine-based captions with 75-85% accuracy.

Live Captioning

While third party speech-to-text products, such as Otter.ai, exist for live-captioning, ITS recommends that professional captioning be used whenever an accommodation is requested or whenever our policy requires that an event has live captioning.

See Guidelines for CART and ASL Interpreting for more information.

Deleting Captions and/or Transcripts

Users can choose to delete captions or transcripts from media.

Allow Time for Deletion

Kaltura may take up to 24 hours to completely remove captions or transcripts from media files once deleted. If you delete a caption file, we also recommend that you also delete the corresponding transcript file, and vice-versa.

In the My Media page, select Edit (
) indicated as a grey pencil to the right of the media.
Select the Captions tab (for captions) OR select the Attachments tab (for transcripts).
Locate the files that you are removing and hit the x (
) in the Actions area.
A Delete Confirmation window will pop up. Select Delete (
).

delete confirmation

Requesting Captions in Other Languages

Media owners can request captions be processed for their videos in additional languages. Supported languages include Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.

How long will this take?

The Machine Captioning process takes approximately 24-48 hours. You will receive an email notification when the process if completed.

In the My Media page, select the media you would like to request additional captions for.
Click the Actions drop down and select Caption & Enrich.

actions menu
Next leave Service and Feature the default and under Order Captions & Enrichment Services select the Source Media Language you desire. Once selected, hit Submit.

order captions and enrich options

You'll receive a notification that your request has been received and the status of your request will be populated in the Existing Request section.

successful request of caption
populated request pending in existing requests

The Machine Captioning process takes approximately 24-48 hours. You will receive an email notification when the process if completed.

Download Media from Kaltura My Media

You can use the Kaltura MediaSpace (video.syr.edu) to download your previously captured and uploaded videos.

In the My Media page, select Edit (
grey pencil edit icon
) indicated as a grey pencil to the right of the media.
Select the Downloads tab (located between the Thumbnails and Caption tabs).
Next to Available Formats:, click the checkboxes for any/all versions of the file you want to make downloadable, as seen below:

screenshot of format page in KMS
At the bottom on the page, click the Save button.
Click Go To Media orange link.
On the media entry page, click the Download tab, then the download icon under "Actions."

screenshot of download page in KMS

Viewing Media Analytics

Videos published using the Kaltura tools built into Blackboards can provide media owners and collaborators with analytics to better understand how viewers are watching posted media including number of plays, length of plays, geographic location, and devices used.

While Kaltura Analytics can help you gain insight into how course videos are used by students, we recommend against using analytics as a sole measurement for attendance or participation grades. Some computer settings like certain browsers, browser plugins, and virtual private networks (VPNs) can prevent Kaltura from gathering information about student views.

Kaltura analytics will not be accurate if you have pasted embed code for the video into Blackboard, posted an unlisted link to the Kaltura MediaSpace, or allow users to download the video from outside of Blackboard.

The instructions below show how to access Kaltura Analytics. Kaltura's documentation has details about the terminology used analytics pages.

Navigate to the Kaltura My Media using the steps above.
Locate the video you'd like to review.
Click the analytics (
analytics button
) button.

my media pointing to analytics symbol

Kaltura 360º Video

Kaltura allows 360 navigation on media, however, this is not automatic and requires tagging the entry as the player will only enable 360 navigation on entries that are tagged "360".

Accessing Zoom Recordings

If you use Zoom to make a cloud recording of your meeting, the Zoom recording will automatically be copied to your Kaltura My Media.

Please note, the video will not start converting in Kaltura until it has full uploaded in Zoom Cloud.

To access the Kaltura copy, please follow to steps above to view My Media in Blackboard or go to the Kaltura MediaSpace.

Kaltura Express Capture

Kaltura Express Capture allows you to record videos from your browser without installing additional software on your computer via Kaltura MediaSpace or via Blackboard. Recent updates include the ability to record your screen as well as your camera to create a dual-stream video where viewers can choose how the streams are displayed to them.

Express Capture is only supported on laptop and desktop computers. It is not available on mobile devices. For mobile devices, use the video camera option on your device and upload the content using the media upload option.

Additional instructions are available from Kaltura.

Important

Do not use Express Capture to record long videos. Express Capture is a web-based service, so any interruption in internet service could corrupt your recording and it will not be recoverable. Use Express Capture for quick videos that are a few minutes long such as answers to questions, explanations about how to do a homework problem, providing a comment to a discussion, or a short presentation. The maximum allowed recording length is 30 minutes.

To use Express Capture in Blackboard:

Important

On macOS you will need to /wiki/spaces/ITHELP/pages/159942992.

In a content area, learning module, lesson plan, or folder, select Build Content to access the menu.
Under Mashups choose Kaltura Media.
Click the Add New (
) and then select Express Capture. Note: You may need to widen your screen to see all available options.
If prompted by your browser, allow access your camera and microphone.
Click the camera button to turn the camera on and off, or to select the camera to use, if you have more than one attached to your computer.
Click the microphone button to turn the microphone on and off, or to select the microphone to use, if you have more than one attached to your computer.
Click the screenshare button to enable screen recording and select a screen or window to record.
To begin recording, click the red Record icon.
While you are recording, the total time is displayed in the bottom center of the interface.
To end your recording, click the Stop button. You will be presented with three options:
1. Record Again: Click this to discard your recording and immediately begin a new one.
2. Use This: Click this to upload your recording to MediaSpace. After clicking, enter a title, and then click Save.
3. Save a copy: Click this to download your recording to your computer.
After the video is uploaded with the Use This option, recordings made with Express Recording behave like all other Kaltura content. They will be closed-captioned, can be published to Blackboard, embedded to a website, and can be downloaded.

Students Using Kaltura Media

Kaltura media allows you to create, upload, and publish videos in your Blackboard courses. The information below will walk you through the basics of using Kaltura Media.

Add Media to Assignments, Discussions, etc.

You can add media (e.g. video responses, lecture videos, video assignments) directly to any course content area. This includes media you add or capture in real-time or media you added via the Media Gallery or web interface previously.

Access your Assignment link, Discussion, Blog, etc. and look for the Text Editor.
Note: If you are using Kaltura Media for an assignment, you will need to click the option Write A Submission in order for the text editor to appear.
In any text area, use the expand button (
) to expand the full tool palette.
Click the plus button (
) and select “Kaltura Media”
Choose from the three options: My Media, Media Gallery, and Shared Repository to add content you have already have uploaded to the Kaltura MediaSpace.
1. If you would like to add new content, click the Add New (
  ) button and choose from the available options.
Once you have the media you would like to add, click the Embed (
) button.
The file will paste inside the message field. At this point you can add additional text as needed and when you are finished, click Submit.

Using Kaltura Capture on a Mac

As macOS increases its privacy and security settings for Apple's operating systems, running Kaltura Capture on macOS may require enabling additional permissions. Please use the instructions in the link below if you are seeing errors while trying to record using Kaltura Personal Capture on macOS.

Kaltura Personal Capture macOS Settings

Kaltura How-To Instructions

Kaltura has created a wealth of informative self-guided training modules to help users learn how to best interact with the Kaltura interfaces.

Need Training? Online Learning Services has multiple Kaltura Training Sessions available.

Getting Help

For support of the information above, staff and faculty should first contact their academic or administrative support personnel.