Assignment with Screencastify file upload

[jason_waltz]

Is there a way to get .webm video submissions to load in the SpeedGrader preview pane?

My teachers have had students create screen cast videos using ScreenCastify.  The video is automatically saved to the students' Google Drive.  Students then upload the video file as the artifact for a Canvas assignment.  The teacher is able to download the video but is unable to view the video from the preview pane at left.  The download process is a tedious and frankly unacceptable workflow for me to recommend.  Any advise would be GREATLY appreciated.

[kona · Accepted solution]

 @jason_waltz , DocViewer is the feature in Speedgrader that allows people to view assignment submissions. Per the following guide - How do I use SpeedGrader? - "Media submissions may display as an embedded file in SpeedGrader or only display as a downloadable file." Given that this is the built in functionality (or lack thereof) for Canvas, you would need to create a feature idea if you would like to pursue this as an option in Canvas. If you are interested, you can check this out - Canvas Studio‌. 

Hope this helps! Kona

[rislis]

Jason,

Could you make the submission type be a URL and then have the students share the Google Drive link from Screencastify?

What grades do you use Screencastify with? 

[lisa_johnson]

I have a course that requires students to submit a video reflection and I submit, as the instructor, a video reply. I'm finding the Canvas Upload/Record Media tool much, much, much too slow to save (about 30 minutes for a 3-5 minute video; widespread/known and frequently reported issue by my institution as far as I understand it). Another issue is I would like to conduct screencasting to show things while I speak, which is not possible with the built-in Canvas tool. With multiple students, this is not a feasible situation. Today, after seeing a student submit a Screencastify video, I decided to try this Chrome extension option. Here is what I've discovered that may be of some use to the readers of this thread:

1) Screencastify gives the option to save to device or Google Drive. It preferences Google Drive as the option and permits this company to view the entire contents of the Drive account associated with the user. I opted to save to my device instead. That prevents me from utilizing the alpha editor now available with Screencastify. 

2) Screencastify requires a paid account to download or export as an MP4 (and again preferences use/access to your Google Drive associated with your account. 

3) I could save the .WEBM file and it played beautifully in my VLC media player. However, I could not export that to one of the Canvas acceptable media/video file formats (e..g, MP4) successfully; the sound was lost. 

Here is a list of video formats that Canvas Speedgrader (presumably discussions and announcements as well) can handle: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-12708-4152719727

Since I'll have to do a lot of fiddling to create these videos with Screencastify, I'm going to instead use Zoom, which I am able to record with, download the MP4, and upload to Canvas successfully instead. Although that process is about as time-consuming as recording natively in Canvas on any given day I can at least screencast while recording my webcam in Zoom, which was the feature that appealed to me with Screencastify. Since I have Zoom, it's not cost-effective to buy Screencastify.

4) For those who do not have accounts with Zoom or another viable option for webcam and simultaneous screencasting that enable recordings/MP4 download (or another acceptable Canvas file format for video), the current $24/year per user "premium" account with Screencastify may be worth exploring. See https://www.screencastify.com/buy/ for current pricing.

5) Friendly advice, read the Privacy Policy: https://www.screencastify.com/privacy/policy/ 

Happy recording all,

Lisa