how to add a youtube video to canvas assignment

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Canvas: How to Embed YouTube Video

In Canvas, you can embed YouTube videos on a course page, discussion post, or assignment using the Rich Content Editor (RCE.) One option is to search and embed YouTube videos in RCE directly. The other is copying the embedded codes from a YouTube video and pasting the codes to RCE.

Option I: Searching and Embedding in RCE

• Select a Canvas page where you want to embed the video
• Select Edit .
• In the RCE editor, select the Tools menu > Apps > YouTube. Note: If this is the first time you have embedded with YouTube, choose View All .
• Type the video name in the Search box.
• Locate your video and select Embed or click the down arrow for more options on the embedded video size.
• Click Save .

Option II: Copying Embed Codes from YouTube Video

• In YouTube, select the Share link under the title.
• Select Embed .
• Copy the embed code from the pop-up window.
• In Canvas, select the Canvas page where you want to embed the video.
• In the RCE editor, click the 3 vertical dots at the end of the toolbar.
• Select Cloud icon
• Paste the Embed code that you copied from YouTube.
• Click Submit .

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Add YouTube content

Using the rich content editor in Canvas, you can embed YouTube videos into the page. You can open the rich content editor when you are using any of these features: Announcement, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, and Syllabus. When you create or edit any of these course elements, you will see the rich content editor.

To embed a YouTube video, follow these steps:

• Steps Actions
• From within your Canvas course, in the left-hand course navigation, click the tab that corresponds to the area where you want to add the video (e.g., Assignments, Syllabus, etc.).
• Click Edit or Create as appropriate. The rich content editor appears.
• In the rich content editor toolbar, click the insert link button (chain icon).
• In the text box that appears, enter the URL of the YouTube video page.
• Click Insert Link .
• Check the rich content editor to ensure that the link was properly inserted. The link will flash yellow when it is inserted in the page.
• At the bottom of the screen, click Save . The video should now appear on the page where you have embedded it, and will be available for viewing.

Technology Mediated Instruction

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Embed youtube video in canvas.

This be a powerful teaching and learning tool, and embedding the video directly in your course puts the content within the course context, eliminating the many distractions on the YouTube web site.

Embed A YouTube Video

Simply  paste the complete URL of the YouTube video, and a thumbnail and embedded player will be added automatically.  This can be done anywhere the Content Editor is available (Pages, Assignment instructions, Announcements, Quiz question, etc.)

Keep in mind that the link also provides access to the video on YouTube.com , where the student is taken out of the course context, and subjected to various distractions on the YouTube web site.

See the Canvas Guides:

How do I embed video in the Rich Content Editor? Use the Insert/Edit Media tool to easily add video directly to the content editor.

How do I create a hyperlink in the Rich Content Editor? Add a web link within the Content Editor

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Working with Video (Kaltura, Canvas, Zoom, and PowerPoint)

Creating a Video Submission Assignment

It’s easy to create an assignment, either using the Canvas Assignment tool or the Discussion tool, where students can submit a video to you directly or share it with the class. Examples of assignments using student video include class introductions, student individual and group presentations, “on-location” reporting such as visiting a particular type of location or event, interview assignments or role-plays with pairs of students, or demonstrating a procedure or activity.

Setting up an assignment that students submit to you (Canvas Assignment tool)

Using the Canvas Assignment tool, you set up the assignment as you would any other assignment just making sure to set the Submission Type to Text Entry . Even though Media Recording and File Upload seem like more obvious options, using Text Entry, allows students to use Kaltura to submit their video which will create a better experience for you when you are grading them. Using Kaltura, you can control the playback speed, see the video in full-screen, and, if you instruct students to edit their automatically generated captions , view the closed captions for the video.

Setting up an assignment where students share their video with the class

If you want other students to see the video as well and provide peer feedback, you can set up your assignment using either Canvas Discussions or Kaltura Media Gallery.  There are pros and cons to both methods.

The Canvas Discussions tool

• allows you and your students to easily refer to other videos and comments within the discussion,
• lets you  use SpeedGrader to be able to see all of a single students posts in one place
• can take a long time to load a full discussion, especially on a slow or spotty internet connection

The Kaltura Media Gallery tool

• allows you and your students to make comments at a specific point on any given video
• uses less bandwidth since you are loading a single video at a time
• does not provide a way to see all comments for a particular student in one place.

Using the Discussion tool

To use the Discussion tool, you can create the assignment just as you would for any other discussion. There is nothing different in the setup process as students can embed video in discussions by default. If you are wanting students to post a video in a group discussion , please see Video in Canvas group discussions . The integrated Kaltura tools are not available in group discussions but there is a work-around. If you do not have any students who require captions, and if you and your students are comfortable with their videos being stored on an Amazon Web Server where they cannot find and delete them, they can use the native Canvas Add/Embed video tool instead. Alternatively, you can use VoiceThread for video-based discussions in small groups.

Using Kaltura Media Gallery

If you have not already done so, the first step is to enable Kaltura Media Gallery in your course navigation .

To use Kaltura Media Gallery, you would create an assignment in the Assignment tool with the submission type being “no submission” and provide instructions for students to submit their video by sharing it with the course Kaltura Media Gallery. The instructions should include the specific naming convention you would like students to use for their video (i.e. their name, the assignment name, etc.) and anything that you would like them to add to the video description (i.e. anything that you would normally have them add in a discussion post).

Media Gallery Settings

Setting up an assignment where students submit their video to you only

Submitting a video assignment.

Make sure to provide students with instructions on submitting a video. You can’t assume that your students know how to do this already. Please feel free to share the links to the appropriate instructions below with your students.

• Embedding a video in a text editor box in Canvas
• Adding a Video to Kaltura Media Gallery

Creating a video for an assignment

• Personal video in discussions and assignments using Kaltura Express Capture
• Submitting a previously recorded video (useful for recording with a mobile device)
• Recording an individual presentation with Kaltura Personal Capture
• Recording an individual or group presentation with Zoom
• Recording an individual or group presentation with PowerPoint 365 or 2019
• Video in Canvas group discussions

Click Next in the red bar below to continue to the instructions for students.

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• Create audio or video recordings?
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How-to Guide: Add Video to Canvas

Canvas has great flexibility for allowing users to determine where and how to add video content. Methods for adding video to your course site include recording directly to Canvas, linking and embedding. This guide will demonstrate methods for adding video hosted and created by you, or others, and help you decide when to employ each method. This guide will show you how to identify the best method for hosting video content, as well as how to link or embed videos in Canvas.

Canvas Media Tools

Video and audio can be recorded directly to Canvas using your webcam and microphone. This is a convenient way to record an impromptu announcement video, or record assignment feedback as an audio message, rather than typing it out. Canvas media tools also allow content owners to add caption files to videos, providing an accessible mode of delivery for all learners.

Canvas media tools are best used when:

• the media content is less than 15 minutes long
• you have a stable Internet connection when you record the media
• the content is informal, unscripted or unpolished
• the content is only relevant to the current quarter or section

Visit the following instruction guides by Instructure for step by step instructions to record a video using the Rich Content Editor , and record audio using the Rich Content Editor .

Visit the Learn More section of this guide for step by step instructions to add captions to Canvas media.

Linking or Embedding Media in Canvas

Given certain limitations of Canvas media tools, it is likely that you will create and host your content using Canvas integrated tools like Panopto . Or you may employ content from media resources hosted online in places like Vimeo, YouTube or Soundcloud, to name a few. 

No matter how the content is hosted or created, there are a few different ways to add content and display it in your course site demonstrated in the following tutorials. Before adding any content to your course site you will first need to identify the content source, and the destination for page your content. In Canvas, video content can be linked or embedded on any page that employs a content editor which includes Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, and the Syllabus.

Embedding Panopto Videos

Once you have uploaded your video content to Panopto, follow these steps to embed your video or playlists on your Canvas pages.

External Media Embedding

• Navigate to the video, playlist or audio file you would like to share and locate the embed code. These sources might include TED talks, Vimeo, YouTube, and SoundCloud to name a few. The embed code is normally labeled “Share,” represented by a curved arrow, or as with Vimeo, a paper airplane.
• Select and Copy the embed code.
• Navigate to the Canvas course page where your video will be embedded and open the Rich Content Editor. Place your cursor where you want to video, then select the Insert/edit media icon within your editor, which will open a pop-up.
• Select the Embed tab and paste your custom code block into the field. Click OK to complete this process.
• Save your edits in Canvas.
• How do I add captions to new or uploaded videos in Canvas?

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