Panopto

Recording in-class presentations for assessment

Assignments, Blackboard, Panopto, Training /
Three people: one with a camera recording the person in the centre. the third person holds a director's megaphone.

Recently we have seen an increase in queries about recording student presentations for assessment. As ever, a Blackboard submission that uses Panopto is the best option for student submissions. However, what about recordings for presentations in-class? There are a couple of options available.

Manual recording

This is the method that most staff have used historically. Many schools have their own video cameras, and staff can borrow these to record the student presentations and share with external examiners via OneDrive or SharePoint. Recordings can either be stopped after each student, or one long recording can be made, and the timestamps noted for external examiners.

The advantage of this process is that it’s relatively straightforward and easy for staff to implement. Most schools have cameras to borrow, most often via PAS teams or Technicians, and extracting the videos and sharing by OneDrive or SharePoint is fairly simple.

The disadvantages are that using OneDrive relies on the sharer being available for the duration of the moderation process. If that person is on annual leave or sick, any issues with the files or sharing process are difficult to resolve. If the sharer leaves the university altogether, their OneDrive account will be taken down, and the recordings could be lost.

Video files could be uploaded and located in a SharePoint site, to allow all members access. We recommend contacting Digital Services for support with SharePoint. However, sometimes External Examiners can encounter issues accessing links and content in SharePoint too.

Using Panopto

As an alternative, we have designed a workflow to record via Panopto within your Blackboard module. The tutor is logged in and the recordings sit in a private area within the Blackboard space.

The advantages of this process are that the recordings will be held within the Blackboard module, meaning that any member of staff, including external examiners will have access, without the students being able to see them. The steps are contained in one process, with little follow-up. The process can work from any room, even those without Panopto video recording, although this will require a webcam.

This approach is quite versatile and can meet the needs of a range of assessment approaches. If you would like to know how to do this, please sign up for our training session on Wednesday 29th April, 13:30-14:30. You can book a place via iTrent under Learning, and selecting the type ‘Technology Enhanced Learning’.

If you have any questions, please email us at TEL@worc.ac.uk

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Editing your video recordings in Panopto

Panopto, Training, Video /

Sometimes it is necessary to carry out editing on a video of a teaching session that has been recorded using Panopto. This may be a section at the end, where you want to remove student questions for instance, or it could be during the middle of the session, where the video has continued running while you were having a break. Panopto has some simple but effective video editing tools, that mean basic editing functions can be applied easily and quickly to your videos. It also offers the advantage that all edits are non-destructive, so you always have the option to safely revert back to your original video.

To edit your video, hover over the video you wish to edit and select the ‘Edit’ icon.

Edit button highlighted as it appears in Panopto

On the video timeline, use the left mouse button to click and drag to select sections of the video you want to remove. Edits can be made at any point within the video timeline.

Screenshot of the video timeline with selections of cuts which need to be made.

You can then play the video and the edited sections (shown in grey above) will not be included in your video.

You can also normalize the volume levels across your audio. This increases the volume of the quieter sections of audio without clipping, making the entire audio track clearer. 

'Normalize audio volume' selection option highlighted.

Once you are happy you can click on the ‘Apply’ button at the top of the page.

Blue Apply button shown (alongside other icon options at the top of the page).

For further information about editing in Panopto, please visit the TEL Panopto webpages: Staff Panopto Manual: Editing

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September Support from TEL

Assignments, Blackboard, Panopto, PebblePad, Training, Turnitin /

As the first semester gets underway and new colleagues join the university, we thought it would be helpful to signpost where and how staff can access support from the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Unit. Whether you’re exploring new digital tools or seeking guidance on best practices for online learning, we’re here to assist.

Online Support Resources

  • Our TEL Tools page provides an overview for staff of the main technologies used to support learning, teaching and assessment at the university.
  • Our Support Resources page links to a range of online guides, manuals and instructional videos for both staff and students. You will be able to find support for the Blackboard VLE (including Class Collaborate), Turnitin, PebblePad and Panopto. You can share suitable links from our student support pages with your students. For example, you can choose to include the most appropriate student resources within your module content: Adding Links

Our TEL Blog:

Staff members are welcome to subscribe to our Blog posts. These keep staff updated about recent changes to the VLE and its’ integrations and also provide handy hints or tips for using our suite of Learning Technologies. We have included some blog highlights below, from last year, which are helpful to refer to early on in a semester:

Additional help and training:

We run staff training sessions through the year. Our workshops are included in Staff Development / iTrent bookings. In addition, our team of Learning Technologists are available for departmental or small group training sessions for staff. So, if you or your colleagues have any Learning Technology training needs, please do get in touch. Also, if you have any questions or queries about the systems we manage, please contact us at TEL tel@worc.ac.uk.

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New Recommended Panopto Assignment Process

Assignments, Blackboard, Panopto /

We have listened carefully to feedback from both staff and students regarding Panopto assignment submissions, particularly around challenges with the submission process. In summary, the main issues raised are:

  • The submission process is not always straightforward, and some students struggle to complete it successfully.
  • The student experience varies across devices, with MacBook users finding the process particularly difficult and encountering limitations in available features.
  • The existence of multiple submission routes can create confusion.

In response, we have reviewed the situation and decided to standardise the recommended process so that all Panopto submissions follow one clear, simple workflow. This approach is designed to ensure consistency and ease of use for all students, regardless of the device they are using.

Going forward, we recommend that video submissions are created as a PowerPoint presentation with Cameo voiceover, saved as an MP4, and then uploaded to Panopto. This method is more straightforward and relies on familiar tools, making it far simpler than Panopto’s browser capture. PowerPoint is a tool that is available to all students as part of the free Office 365 subscription through the University. Should you as the course tutor wish to stipulate a different method of video creation, such as using Camtasia, this is your choice. The main point is that the video should be created first and then submitted.

While this workflow has always been an available option — particularly for students experiencing difficulties — some tutors have raised concerns about academic integrity. To address this, we consulted with the University’s Academic Integrity Tutors, who have confirmed that this process fully meets academic integrity requirements.

Please read the guidance on using Panopto with PowerPoint.

To set up a Panopto Video submission, please follow the guide. This part of the process will be unchanged from last year.

If you have any questions, please email me at a.bright@worc.ac.uk

Andrew Bright

Interim Head of Technology Enhanced Learning

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Assessments in the Blackboard VLE

Assignments, Blackboard, Panopto, PebblePad, Turnitin, Ultra, Video /

Choosing assignment submission tools within Blackboard Ultra.

It can sometimes be difficult to determine which is the best submission tool to use when creating assignments for your students in Blackboard.

We have the following advice and guidance for lecturers to help with your choice. We recommend different tools depending on the assignment needs and have submission workflows which your students can follow.

The flowchart below summarises the most suitable assignment software for each submission type:

Assessment flow chart -Essay/Report: Turnitin; Group, Exam/Test, Blackboard tools: Blackboard assignment; Portfolio/Practice assessment: PebblePad; Audio/Video: Panopto

Our Blackboard Ultra Manual includes instructions for the different Assessments within the VLE and how to provide Grading and Feedback.

Turnitin Assignments

Turnitin is most appropriate for word-based assignments or those which contain a large amount of text. Submissions can be checked for originality against the global database.

We have a Turnitin staff manual and a recent Turnitin assignments blog post, which includes all relevant links and tips for tutors.

Blackboard Assignments

If large files, multiple files, zip files, or files which contain mostly imagery, need to be uploaded for an assessment – a Blackboard assignment can be used to manage submissions.

Please see our Blackboard Ultra Manual: Learn Ultra Assignments.

Panopto Assignments

If students are creating video or audio, for example, as part of a presentation – a Blackboard assignment which uses the Panopto integration is normally most useful.

We have a Panopto manual for Staff and a helpful blog post for tutors with further advice: Panopto Assignment Submission Points

PebblePad Assignments

The Ultra VLE manual includes information about PebblePad Assessments. If you require support with PebblePad, please contact the TEL Unit tel@worc.ac.uk.

We also have student FAQs for common PebblePad queries.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to one of the team about upcoming assessments, you are welcome to contact us at tel@worc.ac.uk.

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Marking Panopto Assignments in Blackboard Ultra

Assignments, Panopto, Ultra, Video /

With marking season upon us, many of you will be marking Panopto assignments, so we thought it would be useful to share a little tip based on staff feedback.

You will notice that, when marking Panopto assignments, the video displays a little differently in Blackboard assignment view, which can result in the student’s face obscuring part of the slide that they are presenting. You also don’t automatically see the transcription as you did in the old system.

If you find this view difficult to use, you can open the traditional Panopto view by clicking on the arrow in the video control bar.

Although you will still need to add your grade and feedback in the Blackboard assignment view, opening this link will allow you to watch the video uninterrupted, as well as being able to view captions.

If you have any further queries, please contact us at TEL@worc.ac.uk

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Clapper board

Panopto Assignment Submission Points

Blackboard Learn Ultra, Panopto, Ultra /

Now there will be no need for tutors to take any additional steps when setting up a Blackboard assignment to enable Panopto functionality within Ultra. The assignments will work slightly differently to what was required in our original VLE. To create a submission point, a standard Blackboard Ultra assignment will enable students to submit text and attach files, or add Panopto video as content for their assignment. 

Our Blackboard Ultra Manual for staff has further guidance for video assignments and we have an updated Panopto Staff Manual

If you need to attach a rubric for any Blackboard Ultra assignments, please see further details here.

When your Students come to make a submission they will instead need to select the Panopto Submission Tool from the ‘Content Market’. We are recommending that lecturers provide students with details about the new submission process for Panopto assignments.

We have further guidance in our TEL Panopto Manual for students:

https://lttu.uk/support/Panopto/students/

The student manual includes details about how to create video using Panopto capture or PowerPoint, and information about how to submit / upload video assignments which have been recorded elsewhere. Students will need to access Panopto from their Blackboard assignment submission point to create or upload any work.

When using Blackboard integrations we recommend using Chrome as a browser and to check the permission settings for the Blackboard site, to ensure third party cookies are allowed.

If your students encounter any problems, the manual also has a troubleshooting section and where students can get help. We also have an additional Blog post for lecturers which includes Top Tips for your students when creating or submitting Panopto assignments in Ultra.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at TEL, tel@worc.ac.uk, if you have any questions or if you would like further support with Panopto.

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Migrating Panopto Video Content

Blackboard, Blackboard Learn Ultra, Panopto, Video /
Decorative image of laptop and action camera. technology, camera, sport-2125547.jpg

As we move to the new version of Blackboard ‘Learn Ultra’ ready for September, you may need to reuse older video content, from the ‘Learn 9.1’ system, in your new modules.

The easiest way to do this is to simply download the videos from the original module, using the download button:

This will save the video file to your computer. Rename the file if you wish, and then follow the instructions to add a link to Panopto from your Blackboard module. This will enable you to upload the video you have just saved, into the new Ultra module ready for use.

You can then add your video to a module document page, or embed it as a full-size video in the Content page.

*If you do not see the download button this means that the original uploader has removed this feature, and you will need to contact the TEL Team for further assistance: tel@worc.ac.uk

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Choosing the correct Assignment Submission Tool in Blackboard Learn Ultra

Blackboard, Blackboard Learn Ultra, Panopto, PebblePad, Turnitin /
Collection of diverse thoughtful people. Six smart men and women thinking or solving problem.

Image by ©Rudzhan

Ensuring that you have chosen the correct submission tool for your students is essential to facilitate a problem free assignment submission experience and minimise stress for your students.

Turnitin Assignments

If you have a largely text based assignment, then Turnitin is the ideal software for this. Turnitin will provide an originality report to help identify sources throughout a student’s paper and is ideal for written assignments, such as, reports or essays.

Blackboard Assignments

For large files, multiple files, zip files, or files which contain mostly imagery, a Blackboard Assignment submission point is most suitable.

Panopto Assignments

If you are asking your students to produce a video or audio file, a Panopto assignment is most likely to provide the best experience for students, allowing them to create and upload videos directly in the Panopto system.

If you have any questions or would like any help with choosing a suitable submission tool for your students, please email TEL@worc.ac.uk in the first instance. The flowchart below summarises the most suitable assignment software for each submission type.

Flow diagram of assignment type choices. Essay/Report to Turnitin. Group; Exam/Test; Blackboard Tools goes to Blackboard Assignment. Portfolio/Practice Assessment to PebblePad. Audio/Video to Panopto.

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Panopto Video Support for your Students

Blackboard, Blackboard Learn Ultra, Panopto, Video /
video production, video, movie-4223885.jpg

Panopto is the University’s main application used for recording, storing, or sharing video content. This cloud-based platform permits students to record or upload assignments and to view live lectures. For Blackboard Ultra assessments students can:

Create and submit videos using Panopto Capture

Record PowerPoint presentations

Upload and submit their own video files (which they have created elsewhere)

Depending on the video assignment type, you can use the most suitable link above and share these with your students.

If you have not yet created an Ultra submission point within a module, please see a link to our Video assignment submission point set up guidance for staff below:

Blackboard Ultra Video Assignments Guidance

Sometimes students may encounter technical issues when using Panopto for the first time or when submitting video assessments. We would recommend communicating with your students the creation and submission process for any upcoming video assignments you may have in Blackboard Ultra ahead of a due date. To help with any potential queries from your students, we thought it would be useful to summarise some useful TEL tips:

Tips for Panopto Assignments

  • Students can refer to our Panopto Guide as this includes advice about the different uses of Panopto when creating or uploading to a Blackboard Ultra submission point, and helpful troubleshooting solutions.
  • When using Panopto capture to make an in browser recording, please see further help and guidance directly from Panopto below. Each step is clearly explained and there is also a short informative video, for Chrome users:

https://support.panopto.com/s/article/How-to-Create-a-Video-Using-Panopto-Capture

  • Ahead of using the Panopto integration, users should remember to check their browser’s ‘permission’ settings. For example, if Panopto is blocked from using a device’s camera or microphone, it will not be possible to make a recording. Settings can be changed to ‘allow’, through ‘Privacy and Security’ within Chrome. (These options can be accessed via the three-dot, kebab menu, towards the top right-hand corner of the window.)
  • For Blackboard video assignment submissions, students should ensure they follow the correct submission process carefully, with use of their assignment submission text box, the Insert Content button, and the Panopto Submissions tool in the Content Market.
  • Students should allow themselves plenty of time to make a submission ahead of a due date.
  • Chrome works well as browser with the Panopto integration, when making a Panopto / Blackboard assignment submission, so we recommend using this if possible. The Blackboard browser checker can also be used to troubleshoot.
  • If a connection times out because a large video file is being uploaded there are additional things for your students to try:
    1. Check their internet connectivity.
    2. When uploading to Panopto, they can help their computer process the data contained in a video file, by closing down any additional applications, such as, PowerPoint.
    3. Check the size and type of video file they are attempting to upload, and then contact the TEL Unit with this information so that we can assist them further.
  • After submitting their work, your students will be given the option to download an Ultra submission receipt for their records.
  • The most important action after a student has made an assessment submission, is to go back to the assignment submission point, to check that they can view their Panopto video. Students should be able to see their video embedded to the submission page.

If your students have any concerns or queries about Panopto or a video assignment submission, alongside making their module leader aware of any problems or contacting the IT Service, they are always welcome to contact us, at the TEL Unit, for further technical support, tel@worc.ac.uk.

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