Video can be an amazing tool for teaching and learning, and for fostering an environment to promote learning. We’ve gathered resources here to help you use video in your teaching in the most efficient, effective way possible.

*Note: Are you experiencing permission errors when trying to log in to Panopto or Zoom or videos not having up-to date information? Try these troubleshooting tips on our Browser Support page.

Definitions:

Multimedia is anything containing both words and images, and includes video.
Asynchronous video is video that can be watched whenever, such as a video posted on YouTube.
Synchronous video is video that has to be watched at the same time as everyone else, such as a livestream or a Zoom meeting.

I’m interested in...

Learning more about when video is a great choice for teaching and learning.
Figuring out when I should use synchronous video and when I should use asynchronous video in my teaching.
Learning more about what research shows about how to make multimedia more effective for learning.
Figuring out whether I should use an available video or make my own.
Using an asynchronous video already available online in my course.
Using a video I have on DVD in my course.
Working with the Teaching Center’s professional media production team to custom-make an asynchronous video for my course.
Creating my own asynchronous video for my course, DIY-style.
Learning more about using synchronous video effectively in teaching.
Learning more about how to use Zoom, technically.
Learning more about how to use Panopto, technically.
Learning more about how to use video in Canvas, technically.

I’m interested in learning more about when video is a great choice for teaching and learning.

Should I use video for a given purpose in my teaching? What are the pros and cons of video as opposed to other types of learning resources?

Watch this 7-minute excerpt from a Teaching Center workshop about the pros and cons of video in an educational context, and what video is especially good at in teaching and learning.

How can I make learning from an asynchronous video more active by adding questions for my students to answer?

Panopto enables you to add autograded quiz questions within your videos. Students will need to stop and answer the question(s) before proceeding with the video. If you want, this can even be used as a graded assignment in Canvas!
If this isn’t your own video, but rather a video you’ve found on youtube, Edpuzzle is a tool (not supported by the Teaching Center or Pitt IT) that you can use to add questions to youtube videos.
If you’re unable to add questions within the video, adding a short quiz in Canvas for students to complete after they watch the video is a great option!

I’m interested in figuring out when I should use synchronous video and when I should use asynchronous video in my teaching.

Should I teach this specific thing synchronously during class time, or post an asynchronous video about it?

I’m interested in learning more about what research shows about how to make multimedia more effective for learning.

Are there any data on what characteristics of a video are better for learning? What should I look for in videos I will use with my students? What characteristics should I try to incorporate into asynchronous videos I’m making myself or in my synchronous video presentations so they’re more effective for my students’ learning?

Professor Richard Mayer of UCSB has spent his career studying multimedia and its effects on learning. He has compiled a list of principles for effective educational multimedia based on his and others’ research. The below resources have all been designed to be easily applied to your own work when creating multimedia, whether you are a novice or an expert at multimedia creation.

Watch a 9-minute video on Mayer’s Principles of Multimedia Design
Download a checklist of Mayer’s Principles
Watch a 5-minute video on the cognitive theory behind Mayer’s Principles

I’m interested in figuring out whether I should use an available video or make my own.

I’ve found videos about my topic online. Should I have my students watch those videos, or should I create my own video about this topic?

I’m interested in using an asynchronous video already available online in my course.

(How) am I allowed to use this video?

Short YouTube Answer: Any video on youtube may be linked to or embedded on a Canvas page (or anywhere else). This is simply sending viewers to see the video where it has been posted by its owner. You may not use third party software to download or record that youtube video and re-distribute it to your students, however, unless the video’s information says that you may.
For more information on whether you are allowed to download and redistribute (and in some cases edit) a video, see the “Can I Use It?” section of the Copyright and Intellectual Property Toolkit Libguide from Pitt’s University Library System.
For more information on video usage rights in general, see the “Showing Films, Videos, and TV Programs” section of the Copyright and Intellectual Property Toolkit Libguide from Pitt’s University Library System.

I need to talk about the video while it’s playing. Can I do that?

There is a tool called Edpuzzle (not supported by the Teaching Center or by Pitt IT) that allows you to superimpose your own narration over a youtube video, for example, while still technically playing that video embedded from its source instead of getting into the murky zone of redistributing the video.

How can I link to or embed a Panopto video in Canvas?

Using Panopto with Canvas

How can I link to or embed a YouTube video in Canvas?

Embedding a video in a page in a course

I’m interested in using a video I have on DVD in my course.

(How) am I allowed to use this video?

For more information on video usage rights in general, see the “Showing Films, Videos, and TV Programs” section of the Copyright and Intellectual Property Toolkit Libguide from Pitt’s University Library System.

How can I get a DVD player for my in-person classroom?

Contact the Teaching Center’s Classroom Services
Note that this may not be available due to Covid restrictions. Please check before planning on using it.

How can I show this content remotely?

Contact the ULS to explore your options.

I’m interested in working with the Teaching Center’s professional media production team to custom-make an asynchronous video for my course.

Contact the Teaching Center’s Academic Digital Media Production team by filling out their media production form. If your production timeline fits into their schedule, they work on projects associated with Pitt courses for free.

I’m interested in creating my own asynchronous video for my course, DIY-style.

Is there a recording studio I can use on Pitt’s Pittsburgh campus?

Hillman Library has a one-button studio
Hillman Library has a whisper room sound booth
The Teaching Center has a Media Creation Lab
Note that all of the above may not be available at all times due to Covid restrictions. Please check before planning on using them.

Where can I borrow recording hardware?

The Teaching Center’s Classroom Services has a variety of audiovisual recording hardware to lend.
Hillman Library’s Media Production Equipment & Services Equipment Lending Program has a variety of audiovisual recording hardware to lend.
Note that all of the above may not be available at all times due to Covid restrictions. Please check before planning on using them.

Can I record my handwriting while I narrate the video?

Creating tablet capture videos

What is 360 degree video? Where can I learn more and get started?

360 degree video is video in which the viewer can look up, down, and all around themselves at will within the video. It can be used to immerse a student in a setting, situation, or environment they wouldn’t be able to visit otherwise.
The Teaching Center’s Open Lab provides training in 360 degree video production and editing, and lends out Garmin VIRB 360 camera kits to trainees. Open Lab can also provide 360 degree video viewers for classes.
Note that this may not be available due to Covid restrictions. Please check before planning on using it.

How can I link to or embed my Panopto video in Canvas?

Using Panopto with Canvas

I’m interested in learning more about using synchronous video effectively in teaching.

What are some techniques I can think about adopting to improve my teaching over Zoom?

Incorporating active learning into remote lectures (1hr15min).
Lecturing in the remote and online environments (36min).

I’m interested in learning more about how to use Zoom, technically.

How do I get started with Zoom?

How-To Resources: Zoom.
Watch a recording of a 1-hour Teaching Center webinar on Using Zoom
Pitt IT: Zoom

How do I set up my Zoom class sessions so that they automatically record into the Panopto tab of my Canvas course?

Automated tutorial on Zoom-Canvas-Panopto integration.

Can I show my handwriting while I narrate?

Creating tablet capture video

I’m interested in learning more about how to use Panopto, technically.

How do I use Panopto to record, edit, and/or share my video with students?

Get started with Panopto at Pitt.
View the recording of a 1.5 hour Teaching Center webinar on Instructional Multimedia: Panopto.

I’m interested in learning more about how to use video in Canvas, technically.

How do I set up my Zoom class sessions so that they automatically record into the Panopto tab of my Canvas course?

Automated tutorial on Zoom-Canvas-Panopto integration

How can I link to or embed a Panopto video in Canvas?

Using Panopto with Canvas

How can I link to or embed a YouTube video in Canvas?

Embedding a video in a page in a course

How can and should I use the built-in Canvas Media Comment tool?

Canvas has a Media Comment tool that is simple and straightforward to use, either by creating a new recording right then and there, or by uploading an asynchronous video you already have on your computer.
The major downsides to this tool compared to putting your video content in Panopto (and then linking to or embedding that content in your Canvas course) are:

It counts against your Canvas course storage quota.
You cannot download the videos you create using this tool for use elsewhere.
You cannot edit video using this tool.
There is no way to generate automated subtitles using this tool.

This can be a great, easy tool to have your students use to make short, simple video comments – student videos do not count against your Canvas course storage quota.
How to upload a video using the Canvas Media Comment tool
How to record a video using the Canvas Media Comment tool

Return to Top