Presentations, Audio, & Video Players

Topics in this Article

Overview
Adding Media Files
- Such as YouTube, Viddler, TeacherTube, Flash Presentations, Streaming video, etc.
Playing Media in Blackboard

Overview

There are quite a few different types of media files available online. Below are some tips on adding media files to your course, and a list of the most common methods of delivering audio and video media over the Internet. Some file types such as MP3 and AVI files require modifications to player preferences in order to work correctly in Blackboard. If you or your students experience problems playing your courses media clips, please contact the Center for Teaching Innovation with a detailed description of the problem.

Adding Media Files

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There are a number of methods available to add Audio and Video files to your course. The tutorials listed below are all acceptable methods of delivery.

YouTube, Viddler, TeacherTube, etc.
Use the Web Links tool to link to a media files located somewhere else on the web.
CAUTION: Avoid embedding media inside your course site. There are known issues for Internet Explorer. See Setup for Internet Explorer to fix these issues.
Online Lecture
Create Online Lectures from your narrated PowerPoint's by converting them into Flash using Articulate Presenter.
Streaming Audio & Video
Contact the Center for Teaching Innovation to have your materials put on the UI Streaming Server, then use the Web Links Tutorial to link to the URLs provided to you.
How to link to your Media:
- See the Course Content Tutorial to add media files to your homepage or in a folder.
- See the Learning Module Tutorial to add media files to your Learning Modules.
- See the Web Links Tutorial to link to a media files located somewhere else on the web, such as YouTube.
- See the File Manager Tutorial for help on uploading materials to your course.

CAUTION: Don't upload WMV files to Bb

Known Issue:
Windows Media Player files (WMV, WMA, ASX, etc.) do not play back consistently from Blackboard. Store your Windows Media files on the UI Real Streaming Media server instead of Blackboard. These files should then play normally in Windows Media Player. Contact the CTI for more information and assistance.

YouTube, Viddler, TeacherTube, etc.

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There are known issues for the Internet Explorer Web browser when playing back embedded video files. See Setup for Internet Explorer to fix these issues.

Flash Player Download: http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer

Flash (e.g. Articulate Lectures)

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Flash Player files should play from Blackboard. One possible problem with Flash playback is that the files sizes can be quite large which can be a problem on slower Internet connections.

Flash Player Download: http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer

CAUTION: Flash 10 Incompatibility Update

Known Issue:
Articulate Presenter 5 presentation lectures have a compatibility problem with the new Flash Player 10 released 10/15/08 which prevents these lectures from playing. All older presentations must be fixed before they will play with the new Flash Player 10. [ more... ]

Playing MP3, AVI, and MPEG

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To listen to an MP3 audio file or watch an AVI or MPEG video in Blackboard use the QuickTime Player. Depending on the type of media file, the VLC Media Player may also be able to play the file.

QuickTime Download: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
VLC Media Player Download: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

If you already have the QuickTime Player installed, but it doesn't automatically play the MP3, AVI, or MPEG files, you can set the QuickTime preferences to play these files. Instructions for setting QuickTime Preferences are listed below:

QuickTime Preferences

Open QuickTime, click on the Edit menu
Go to Preferences
Select QuickTime Preferences...
Select the File Types tab
For MP3 audio, check the box next to MP3 - MPEG layer III movies & Streams
For AVI video, click the plus next to Video, and check the box next to Video for Windows (AVI)
For MPEG video, click the plus next to MPEG, and check the box next to MPEG media
Press OK

Playing Windows Media

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WARNING: Windows Media Player files (WMV, WMA, ASX, etc.) do not play back consistently from Blackboard. There is a known problem with Windows Media player and Blackboard. The Windows Media Player can not play materials from an SSL (secure socket layer) server environment such as Blackboard.

Possible options for Instructor:

The simplest option for the instructor is to contact the CTI and have us move your WMV files to the UI Streaming Media server. We will assist you in fixing your links as well. These media files should then play normally in Windows Media Player. Note: this will put the files in a non-password protected location.
An option that maintains the same security of Blackboard is to ZIP up the WMV files so that students download a Zip file and play the videos from their own desktops. [Help on Creating Zip files]
You may also post the WMV files to an online video service such as YouTube or Viddler, and then link/embed that video into your Blackboard site. This is also not password protected.
Another option is to convert the videos to QuickTime MOV files using a video editing package (which we have in the CTI Lab if that is helpful to you).If the WMV files are actually located on a different server somewhere else, you could link to them there as well.

Playback fix for Students:

Use the VLC Media Player http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Playing QuickTime

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QuickTime files should play from Blackboard. One possible problem with QuickTime playback is that the files sizes can be quite large and this can be a problem for slower Internet connections.

QuickTime Player Download: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

Playing Real Media

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Real Media files are generally streamed from the UI's Streaming Media server. Download the latest version of the Real Player to watch and/or listen to these files.

Real Player Download: http://www.real.com/freeplayer/?rppr=edu

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