multimedia_on

Using multimedia clips on Bb

Options:

A. A clip on a website
B. A small clip on your computer -- say, 1 Mb or less in file size
C. A large clip you created, such as a lecture or video, on your computer

A. A clip on a website
This is a regular link, so you can add it to a document you upload to Bb, or you can type the url directly into Bb: Control Panel, Course Documents, Add item.

B. A small clip on your computer -- say, 1 Mb or preferably less in file size, or no longer than 30 seconds
Options:
1. Create an html file in your course folder, insert a link or links to the clip(s) which must be in the same folder, zip all together and upload the zipped file.
When you upload a file that has links to one or more images, Blackboard prompts you for the image files. But Blackboard does not prompt you for a sound or video file. So you must create a zip file, a package containig all the needed files in your folder (html, sound, video, maybe an image).
Then go into your Blackboard course.
Click Control Panel, then, say, Course Documents, type a title for your file, scroll down to File to Attach, click Browse and select the zip file.
Then click on the down arrow next to Special Action and select Unpackage this file. Click Submit. On the next screen, click on the name of the file that is your entry point (e.g., the main html or Word document -- rather than an image or sound file.)
When the student singleclicks the file name, Blackboard unzips the file so its components show on the screen.
Close the player with its own control to clear it from the screen.

2. Or add the clip as an item by itself:
You need to use Internet Explorer and the Textbox Editor here. Click Control Panel, then, say, Course Documents, Add item. Type a title for your file.
In the Textbox Editor, click the icon in Row 3 for Attach mpeg/avi or QT for video, or the icon for audio, or the icon for Flash.
Scroll down to File to Attach, click Browse and select your media file.
Then click on the down arrow next to Special Action and select Display media file. Click Submit.
On the next screen, select from among the options you want for your media file. The default is fine. Click Submit, OK. Then test.

With Netscape or the Mac, you have to set the text box to HTML and type or paste the HTML code -- then click Submit.
(-- or, more easily, use Option 1 above, or attach a file in the Content section and select "Display media file..." for Special Action)

html code example, using QuickTime and a video clip called diffuse.mov embedded in the Content area,
with dimensions (the original dimensions of the clip, with 30 added to the height to show the Control),
source (your Bb course name and clip name will be different -- here the clip is embedded in the content area),
and control settings (show control, play once without looping only when the control is clicked):

C. A large clip you created, such as a lecture or video (longer than 30 seconds) or a Powerpoint presentation incl. multimedia, on your computer
Put it on a CD and distribute copies to your students. Note that CD-ROM drive letters vary from machine to machine. Tell your students to click on Tools, Set CD ROM Drive for their personal computers.
To access the material from within Bb: Control Panel, Course documents, Add item. Proceed (as for B.2. above): Type a title for your file, scroll down to File to Attach, click Browse, find the drive letter for your CD ROM drive (often, it is D:/) and select your media clip.
Then click on the down arrow next to Special Action and select Display media file. Click Submit.
On the next screen, ignore the message about html but do select from among the options you want for your media file.

Notes:
Find out from your students from where they access Bb.
ITC classrooms have no audio. Test if your video clip works. ITC Open Area allows them to bring and use headphones for audio.
Home: what is their connection speed? dial up? fast connection? Tell them what viewers they need (e.g., RealPlayer, Quicktime).