Using Speedgrader to grade discussion board responses submitted as video files

[howard_933]

My students have the option to record a video as a personal introduction for a discussion board post (they can also post using just text). However, when students do this, the only option in Speedgrader is to download the .mov or .mp4 file; there is no option to just preview that file in Canvas. I don't feel great about having a bunch of student videos on my work computer, although I know I can delete them once I have finished grading. But it is also an issue when other students have to respond to student posts; they must download the video/photo file first before being able to view. There are a lot of potential privacy issues here!

Because we cannot restrict the ways that students submit a video through discussion boards (that is, when they click "Reply" and use the default RCE, it gives the option to upload media OR record using the Canvas media recorder), is it possible to just preview the file in Speedgrader without having to download it?

[Hildi_Pardo]

Hi @howard_933 -- I'm assuming it works properly in Speedgrader and displays properly in the discussion when recorded with the built-in media recorder, and the ones that have to be downloaded are because they are uploaded files.

I might suggest giving instructions and maybe a tutorial to students to show them how to use the built-in media recorder.   Maybe you model it and show them how easy it is to view it, and tell them it's a pain for everyone to have to download it.     Can they edit their responses?  Maybe ask them to go back and Edit it and re-record?

[howard_933]

True... the built-in media recorder should show up as the default when you select "Upload/Record Media" then! In multiple semesters of teaching this same course, I don't think I've had a single student use the built-in recorder. If there was either a way to turn one off or switch how the media recorder showed up, that would make it MUCH easier!

[Hildi_Pardo · Accepted solution]

Hi!  That would be a great Idea you could submit to Canvas -- here's how:  https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructure-Community-Guide/How-do-I-create-a-new-idea-in-the-Ins...

In the meantime, I think clear instructions would be helpful.  And it would be so much easier for them to just use the media recorder right within their reply instead of going to a different tool, recording, saving, and navigating to upload.   Hopefully they will prefer it!

You could even potentially grade with a Rubric and one of the criteria is if they followed directions and used the media recorder -- or alternatively, anyone who follows directions and uses the media recorder get an extra credit point!