Brief answers to your questions.
1. There are no limits in place on Blackboard regarding the size of files that can be uploaded. Three major problems can occur: Sometimes your browser will time out if the file is very large, but that is a browser issue, not a Blackboard issue. Students will often have trouble downloading or watching it if it is too big. If your course on Blackboard becomes too large, exporting and restoring it can become a problem, too.
2. I strongly urge breaking up a video into small (5-15) minute pieces for use on the Internet. It makes it easier on the students, and you can insert some sort of activity related to each section to keep them engaged.
3. There is virtually no way to keep anything on the Internet from being captured and saved. Even a streaming server displays the video on the screen and thus the video can be recorded. A streaming server definitely makes this more complicated. Something posted on Blackboard can just be right-clicked and saved onto a hard drive. A streaming file requires special software to capture the video. So the BEST solution is to post a video on a streaming server and then link to it from Blackboard.
4. I AM NOT A LAWYER, so nothing I say should be construed to be correct! I have seen rules at some institutions where a written release form must be obtained from every student for every recording. I have seen other institutions that require nothing, assuming the material is only going to be used in the class. UM does not have any rule that I am aware of. I would suggest that you cover yourself and get each participant to sign a document that says that they know that your class is being recorded for use by the students in the class and that no other use of the recordings will be made. Then put a statement on the web site, where the recordings or links are posted, saying that "These recordings are for the exclusive use of the students currently taking the course and that no other use may be made of the recordings without the express written consent of Major League Baseball." Oops. Ignore the last phrase. It just flows off my tongue.
--- IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE ---
A sample Classroom Recording Release Form, from another University, can be found on the http://iacinfo.org/index.php?title=Recording_Release_Forms web page. The form is in both Word and PDF formats. You can print the PDF file and have the students fill everything out, or you can edit the Word file to provide the course or event information and then print that version out for the students.
Bryanna Herzog is a WONDERFUL resource for you, and anyone else looking to do digital media stuff. She manages Digital Media Services in Richter Library. You can get all kinds of neat equipment there, use their computers to edit video, check out video cameras, and much more. They don't do it for you, but they will show you, or a student, how to do it. You can get more information about Digital Media Services at http://library.miami.edu/services/medialab/ and you can contact Bryanna directly at 305-284-6221 and bherzog@miami.edu<mailto:bherzog@miami.edu>.
Bill Vilberg, bill.vilberg@miami.edu<mailto:bill.vilberg@miami.edu>, 786-250-2255
http://vilberg.com - Spreading seeds of education, technology, and more
On Jan 18, 2011, at 6:41 PM, David Die wrote:
I am teaching a graduate class to an audience of students that are located in different places. About half are physically present in the RSMAS classroom the rest attend it by connecting to a GOTO MEETING event so that they can see a mirror of what I present in the PC screen and can listen to me. Those attending from outside Miami can also talk, audio is two-way.
Because the experience of attending the class remotely is not as effective as been present in Miami I have decided to record the entire class in GOTO MEETING, so that remote students can play back parts or full classes they may have missed. A typical video file (Windows media player format) of a 70 minute class will be about 60 Mb and its quality is remarkably good, sound and video (of the PC screen) are included. I would like to post the videos in blackboard along with the powerpoints and other material that I am already posting. According to the blackboard instructional videos it is possible to do so. But before I do so I would like to make sure I follow what is considered good practice for posting such material (I have never done so).
- Are there any restrictions on the amount of content we can post to Blackboard – Can I add thirty 70 MB files to the class folders?
- Should I break the files in small 10-15 minute chunks before I post them?
- Can I restrict access to the videos so that they can only be streamed and not downloaded and saved?
- Do I need to seek any permission (such as from the students) to post such material in blackboard?
I have seen that blackboard 9.0 will be set up to add external content, including videos from youtube etc… so It's exciting that we will be migrating to it this coming summer.
David Die, Associate Professor
Director, Cooperative Unit for Fisheries and Education Research
University of Miami
