Record Lectures

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Video Capture and Streaming Tools

It is recommended that you provide students with an opportunity to do a test run to ensure that everything is working. One simple way to test this out would be to hold Virtual Office Hours or to create a quick video to introduce a new topic and post it for your students.

Recommended Hardware for Video Creation

  • Good quality microphone - (e.g., Yeti microphone)
  • Headset with microphone (if possible) to eliminate feedback.
  • Tripod and mount for phone if it is to be used as a camera.

Create a Video

Create a video of your lecture content for your students that they can view as their schedule permits (asynchronous). It is recommended that you use the MP4 video format for video creation. Ideally videos should be short, approximately 12 - 15 minutes, and organized into logical segments.  This makes it easier for students to access content to better support their learning and also to reduce technical issues for you and for students.

Once you have created the video, you will need to upload it to a Streaming Server to make it available to students. To discuss what content would work best in video format as opposed to another modality pedagogically, please contact the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre at eddev.utm@utoronto.ca.

The following tools can be used to record your lecture. Please make sure all your videos are captioned for accessibility and AODA compliance and that students can have access to a transcript of the video.

Please note:  If you create a lecture video, you will need to upload it to a streaming server (e.g., MyMedia) before placing the link in Quercus.  Information on recommended streaming services is provided below in the section entitled Video Streaming. Another option for those with low bandwidth is to use Zoom (save recording to the Cloud) to create a video of your presentation and then post the video in a Quercus module or embed and include a link on a Quercus page.

Video Creation Tool Comparison

Tool How do I access it? Who supports it? Links, Operating Systems Supported
Zoom  (Recommended)

All UTM students, staff, and faculty are licensed for Zoom Pro accounts. Go to  https://utoronto.zoom.us/ and select Sign in  then select the SSO option and login using your UTORid and password to access your account.

(Note:  Zoom can be used to create a lecture recording and a link to the video can be provided to students.)

Instructors can

  • Store recording in the Cloud and provide a link to students (NOTE:  Recordings will only be stored for a maximum of 1 year.)
  • Download Zoom Cloud recording to a computer and upload it to a streaming server so that it can be linked or embedded in Quercus
  • Record locally (directly on a local computer) Note:  This takes up a lot of space, ~ 500 MB per recording.​  The locally recorded video would need to be uploaded to a streaming server so that it can be linked or embedded in Quercus.
 UTM I&ITS Classroom Technology Support  
  • UTM has site licenses and I&ITS requires 72 business hours' notice required using a support ticket.
  • Zoom Index of Knowledge Base articles (requires UTORid and password)
  • It is recommended that instructors use computer audio and not a telephone to avoid long distance charges.
  • If an instructor has bandwidth issues, the recording can be made to the Cloud and a link can be provided to students. If the recording is made to an instructor's computer, then the video will still need to be uploaded to a streaming server (see below).
  • Zoom has live caption delivery capability and also Zoom Cloud recordings allow for access (and additional security settings, such as passcodes) to multiple files, such as audio transcripts.
  • NOTE:  Not meant for long-term storage.  There is a 365-day retention policy.

TechSmith SnagIt - Very basic video capture and editing functionalities

 

 Follow the instructions

U. of T. (institutional level)

Please refer to the Help Tutorials first
NOTE: It is possible to use O365 PowerPoint with automatic subtitles and record it with SnagIt so that they are captioned.
Camtasia – Can add captioning, textboxes, animations, add effects, etc. Obtain a 30-day free trial account or purchase education version Please refer to the Help Tutorials first
NOTE: Windows version has speech-to-text captioning functionality.
iMovie – More advanced video editing options available. Available in your Mac Applications folder Apple
  • Create movies on a Mac .  It is recommended that you export as MP4 format.  Instructions on how to use iMovie
  • It is possible to add captions and subtitles in iMovie.
Keynote Apple Please refer to help tutorials first
PowerPoint – Possible to create and export narrated PowerPoint as an .mp4 video.

All U. of T. faculty, staff and students have access to M365 PowerPoint.

Online version
(UTORid and password required)

Desktop version

 Please refer to the help tutorials first

Caption and Stream a Video

Once you have recorded a video using one of the tools above, you can then caption and share your video.  Note:  Zoom Cloud recordings have captioning and audio transcript functionality built-in and instructions are available on the UTM I&ITS Knowledge Base article under Captioning and Transcripts.

If you are using one of the other alternative options to record video, it is possible to upload the video to MS Stream (on SharePoint / OneDrive) in M365 and auto-generate the caption file, which also provides the ability to edit for corrections.

Note:  Do not upload videos directly to Quercus as you will quickly run out of space and it is not a media streaming server.

Once you have created your lecture video content and exported it in MP4 format, review the options below to determine the location from where you will share your videos.  Share the video content in Quercus by

  • linking to the video in Quercus in a Module or in a Page
  • embedding the video within a Quercus Page so that it will play from within the page in Quercus (MyMedia, MS Stream, YouTube).  

Video Captioning and Streaming Tool Comparison

Tool How do I access it? Who supports it? Functionalities and Notes
Zoom Cloud
 

Log into Zoom Cloud at https://utoronto.zoom.us 

(NOTE:  Zoom Cloud recordings can be accessed from the Zoom Cloud link.  Zoom Cloud recordings can be downloaded if you wish to retain them beyond the duration of the course and placed in an alternative streaming server option.  Videos are not uploaded to Zoom Cloud for streaming.)

 UTM I&ITS Classroom Technology Support  
  • Software licensed to U. of T. Mississauga - Free to all U. of T. Mississauga faculty, staff and students.
  • If your Zoom recordings have been set to record to the Cloud, it is possible to provide a link to students and to add a security passcode.
  • Audio transcript available.
  • NOTE:  Not meant for long-term storage.  There is a 365-day retention policy.
MyMedia Log in link U. of T. Libraries hosts the service.  U. of T. Mississauga Library provides assistance. 
  • Provided by U. of T. Libraries and is free to all U. of T. faculty, staff and students.
  • Upload MP4 videos and then link to or embed videos in Quercus  
  • Videos can be unrestricted or made available to users with a UTORid  
    NOTE: Making videos available via UTORid is equivalent to an unlisted YouTube video provided instructors leave the Discovery option default to off. 
  • Caption file can be uploaded separately.
MS Stream (on SharePoint / OneDrive) Log into M365 apps using UTORid and password. UTM I&ITS Classroom Technology Support  
  • Software licensed by U. of T. - free to all faculty, staff and students. ​
  • Speech-to-Text autogenerated caption file for English can be created and can be downloaded and uploaded elsewhere.​
  • Provides embed link.​
  • Videos are available to the entire university or must add individual students one-by-one if you would like to restrict to students in a course (not as user-friendly for large enrollment courses)​.
YouTube 
 		 Users will need to create a Google account at 
https://www.youtube.com  		 YouTube