Canvas: Use Your Computer's Webcam to Record a New Video with Kaltura

Kaltura is a media management system that can be used to upload video files as well as to create webcam recordings. Videos in Kaltura can be viewed on phones, tablets, and computers.

You can use your computer's webcam to record a short video in Kaltura through your Canvas course site. You can use this recording functionality in Firefox and Google Chrome, including Chromebooks.

Note: This article uses your computer's webcam to record. If you experience issues, this may be due to issues with your computer or webcam. Contact Technology Help for assistance.

Kaltura is accessed from your Canvas course site in two locations:

• Through the Embed Kaltura Media button  located in every rich text editor within Canvas.
• Through My Media in the course navigation menu (see Add Kaltura Course Tool to Canvas for how to get My Media in the course navigation menu of your course site).

This article covers how to record and embed new media through either location:

• Recording and embedding a new video from a Canvas rich text editor
• Recording and embedding a new video from My Media in the course menu

Recording and embedding a new video from a Canvas rich text editor

Use this method to record and embed Kaltura media into a specific location within your course site. This location can be:

• an assignment's description
• a Page
• a quiz question
• anywhere else Canvas displays a rich content editor to format content.

1. Go to the rich content editor that you wish to embed media into.
2. Click the Embed Kaltura Media button  located in the rich text editor options.
3. Click Add New.
4. Select Record Your Webcam from the drop-down menu. The Record Media window opens.
   • Your web browser and/or operating system will ask permission for canvas.umn.edu to use your camera and microphone. Click Allow to give Kaltura access to your webcam.
   • It may take a few moments for Kaltura to show your camera on-screen.
   • If you wish to change the settings to only record the audio, click the Settings gear icon in the upper-right corner of the video display and choose to turn off the camera.
5. Click the Record red circle button to start recording.
   • Note: You may need to scroll down to see the record button.
6. When you are finished recording, click the Stop white square button to stop.
   • Optional: Click the Play button to review your recording. If desired, click the Record Again button to re-record.
7. Click Use This. The recording uploads to Kaltura.
8. Towards the bottom of the window, enter a Name for your recording.
   • The Description and Tags are optional; these will not appear in Canvas, but can be useful for locating your video later.
9. Scroll down and click Save. The page reloads with a confirmation.
10. In the upper right, click Save and Embed.
11. Click Save and Publish.

Recording and embedding a new video from My Media in the course menu

1. In your Canvas course, go to the Course Navigation Menu.
2. Click My Media. Your My Media appears.
3. Click Add New.
4. Select Record Your Webcam from the drop-down menu. The Record Media window opens.
   • Your web browser and/or operating system will ask permission for canvas.umn.edu to use your camera and microphone. Click Allow to give Kaltura access to your webcam.
   • If you wish to change the settings to only record the audio, click the Settings gear icon in the upper-right corner of the video display and choose to turn off the camera.
5. Click the Record red circle button to start recording.
   • Note: You may need to scroll down to see the record button.
6. When you are finished recording, click the Stop white square button to stop.
   • Optional: Click the Play button to review your recording. If desired, click the Record Again button to re-record.
7. Click Use This. The recording uploads to Kaltura.
8. Towards the bottom of the window, enter a Name for your recording.
   • The Description and Tags are optional; these will not appear in Canvas, but can be useful for locating your video later.
9. Scroll down and click Save. The page reloads with a confirmation.
10. Share by copy and pasting an embed code to the location you wish to display the video.
    1. Click Go to Media Page. The video loads, and you can review it from this area.
    2. Click Share.
    3. Choose the video player size you wish to display.
    4. Copy and paste the embed code to the location you wish to display the video.

Known Issues

When you stop recording, the video begins to play back automatically. We are working with the vendor to resolve this accessibility issue.