Learning resource: Video
The "Video" learning resource is the central element for videos in OpenOlat. It is created in the authoring area via "Import File" (to upload an MP4 file) or "Import via URL" (to embed an external video, e.g., from YouTube or Vimeo) and can then be found in the "My Entries" section of the authoring area.
The Video learning resource does not consist only of the video file itself, but is a standalone object with its own information page, administration menu, and sharing settings. It is available across courses and can be embedded in multiple courses or made available independently of courses.
In addition, the Video learning resource can also be further customized interactively using the OpenOlat video editor, e.g. with annotations or quiz questions.
For more technical information on uploading and organizing videos, click here.
Overview of the Video Learning Resource Administration Menus
The "Video" learning resource has the following administration menus:
- Settings (see below)
- Member Management: Primarily relevant when using the Video learning resource on its own. If the video is used within a course, members do not need to be managed separately. Only additional owners of the learning resource are added and managed in this menu.
- Video Editor (see below)
- Offer Types: Links to the booking orders
- Replace Video: Allows you to upload a different or new video file to the learning resource. This is useful, for example, when updating a video. The link to the learning resource and any embedded content remain intact while the new video is displayed. If subtitles already exist for the video and the frentix cloud transcoding service is active, OpenOlat asks when replacing the video whether new subtitles should be generated (see Tab "Configure subtitles").
- Copy: Creates a copy of the learning resource, including all interactive elements added using the video editor.
- Export content: Creates a ZIP file of the learning resource, which can be saved locally and imported into other OpenOlat systems or used as a backup.
- Delete video
"Settings" menu for the Video learning resource
Tab "Info"
On the "Info" tab, you can enter a description, a teaser, and a tag, which will be displayed on the video's info page. If the learning resource is embedded in the course using the Video course element, the description and title can also be displayed directly next to the video in the course. For general information on how to embed the Video learning resource into a course, see the chapter “Course Element: Video”.
For more information on setting up the info page, see the section "Set up info page".
Tip
Since the learning resource is already a video, it is usually neither practical nor necessary to include a teaser video as well. One exception would be a short summary of a longer video intended to provide a preview of its content. However, this video would only be visible if the Video learning resource is offered on its own and not as part of a course. For more information, see the "Share" tab.
Tab "Metadata"
In the "Metadata" tab, you will find general information about the video, such as the creation date and file size. As with other learning resources, you can also enter information about the authors, departments, primary language, duration, and license.
Note for YouTube videos
When YouTube videos are imported via "Import URL," the metadata from the YouTube file, such as the title or thumbnail, is also imported.
Tab "Share"
On the "Share" tab, you can specify whether the Video learning resource should be embedded in a course or used as a standalone resource. If you select "Standalone" as the usage type, you must also define the booking method. For more information, click here.
If the Video Collection is enabled in your instance, you can also choose whether your Video learning resource should be displayed there.
Tab "Configure poster"
On the "Configure Poster" tab, you can specify which thumbnail image should be used to display the video in the course area, in the catalog, on the Video Collection page, on the information page, in the authoring area, and within the course.
Using the "Replace Poster" button, you can choose between different still images from the video, or alternatively, use the "Upload Poster" button to upload your own image as the thumbnail (poster). If no poster is selected, the still image from the beginning of the video will appear.
Tip
Please note that an uploaded image should have the same pixel dimensions as the original video. You can find the relevant information in the "Metadata" tab.
Tab "Configure subtitles"
Subtitles can be uploaded manually or, if the frentix cloud transcoding service is active, generated automatically (see Automatic subtitle generation).
If necessary, create a subtitle file for your video outside of OpenOlat and integrate it in the "Configure Subtitles" tab by uploading the VTT file and selecting the appropriate language.
A video can have subtitles in multiple languages. OpenOlat supports the WebVTT format (see also Wikipedia), so the file must be saved with the .vtt extension. This format is compatible with most common video players.
Here's what you should look out for:
Note
The first line of the VTT document must contain the keyword WEBVTT, followed by a blank line.
A timestamp is required before each subtitle line, and it must be in the following format:
Note
hh:mm:ss.msec
Example: 00:00:20.396 (Time: 0 hours, 0 minutes, 20.396 seconds)
Milliseconds must be specified to the third decimal place.
Attention
The separators for time entries are a colon and a period (see the example above). Commas must not be used.
The following example shows the beginning of a typical VTT file:
Note
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000
Where did he go?
00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:06.500
I think he went down this lane.
00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.500
What are you waiting for?
Subtitles that have already been created are listed in a table and can also be deleted there.
Automatic subtitle generation
If the frentix cloud transcoding service is activated for the OpenOlat instance, the service automatically creates a subtitle file (transcript) in WebVTT format when transcoding an uploaded video. The following applies:
- The language of the video is detected automatically and assigned to the subtitle.
- If a subtitle file already exists for the detected language, it remains unchanged. Automatically generated subtitles do not overwrite any existing files.
- Automatically generated subtitles appear in the subtitles table just like manually uploaded ones and can also be deleted there.
Important
Automatic subtitle generation is part of the frentix cloud transcoding service and is not included in the standard distribution of OpenOlat. If you are interested, please contact the frentix support: contact@frentix.com
Subtitles when replacing a video
If a new video file is uploaded via the "Replace Video" administration menu and subtitles already exist, OpenOlat asks in the dialog "Generate subtitle?" whether a new subtitle should be generated for the replaced video, provided the cloud transcoding service is active.
- Yes: The existing subtitle files are deleted and new subtitles are automatically generated for the new video.
- No: The existing subtitle files are kept.
Show subtitles in the video
By default, videos in OpenOlat play without subtitles.
When subtitles are available, the following icon appears in the video player:
.
CC stands for the American term "Closed captions" (Wikipedia), and means that subtitles are hidden until participants turn them on. In OpenOlat, this function is located at the bottom right of the player. When you hover your mouse pointer over the icon, the list of available subtitles unfolds. The currently selected option is highlighted.
"Video Quality" tab
In the "Video Quality" tab, you can see the resolutions in which the video is available. As soon as a video is uploaded, versions in various resolutions are created. This process may take a while. The resolutions available for download depend on the settings made in the system administration under:
Administration > Modules > Video
Pending videos can be transcoded, and unused resolutions can be deleted.
In the video player, you can select the desired resolution using the "Source Chooser" if needed.
Important
You cannot configure settings for videos added via "Import URL".
Tab "Download"
In the Download tab, you can specify whether participants are allowed to download the video or not.
Important
You cannot configure settings for videos added via "Import URL".
Tab "Catalog"
The "Catalog" tab appears only if Catalog 1.0 is enabled in the OpenOlat instance. You can then add the learning resource to the catalog.
Menu "Video Editor"
In the learning resource administration, you will find the link to the "Video Editor".
Here, you can enhance the video with (interactive) elements and further customize it.
The Video Editor includes three editing areas:
- Configuration area (top right)
- Timeline (bottom)
- Preview area (top left)
The following can be configured: Chapters, annotations, segments, comments and quizzes.
Video editor: Chapters
"Chapters" can be added to each video as jump markers. This makes navigation in the video easier and should be added especially for longer videos. A chapter is created on the "Chapters" tab with the "Add" button.
Select the point in time for the start of the chapter and assign a name. OpenOlat then sets a chapter marker at that point.
You can also navigate to a specific point in the video via the timeline and then click "Add" to create a chapter starting exactly at that point. The start time is then taken over automatically.
Chapters can then be edited or deleted again. Chapters are also visible in the timeline.
Video editor: Annotations
Notes or annotations can also be added at any point in the video, e.g. to highlight particularly important points or to add certain aspects, e.g. references. In addition to text, links can also be added, e.g. leading to further information.
Select the point in the timeline where the annotation should be added and click "Add". The configuration for the annotation appears.
Enter the desired text, set the display duration, and choose a color to mark it in the left area. Click the pencil icon to adjust the position and size of the annotation field. You can also move the annotation field using drag and drop. Save the settings.
You can add as many annotations as you like and switch between them using the arrows. Annotations can also be deleted again via the three-dot menu.
Video editor: Segments
Segments are specific sections of a video that are assigned to, for example, an overarching theme or structure. Segments are particularly relevant in courses for the "Video" and "Video task" course elements, where they can be displayed and used.
Create segments
In the video editor, select the "Segments" tab and click "Add". The configuration menu will appear.
For each segment, you must create an element by clicking "Add" and assign it an appropriate time slot and term. The segments must not overlap in time. In other words, exactly one term is assigned to each time segment.
You can enter all relevant video segment terms directly and then assign them to specific time points in the second step. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click the "Terms" button.
- Use the plus sign to add all relevant terms. If possible, list them in the order they appear in the video. This will make it easier to match them up later.
Alternatively, you can jump to the desired point in the video timeline and then add the appropriate term for that segment. Here’s how:
- Navigate to the desired location on the timeline and click "Add"
- Add a name for this starting point or select one from the list. Set the duration and save.
- Skip to the next item and click "Add" again, and so on.
Inserted segments are displayed in a separate track on the timeline, allowing you to quickly access and edit them.
Hints
- Use the play button on the video to check your work.
- You can click on a segment in the timeline to go directly to the editing screen for that segment.
The segments are primarily used in the "Video task" course element. How could you use the segments here? Here are a few ideas:
a) For example, instructors could assign a key concept to a specific time slot in the video. Later in the course, students must locate the exact point where this aspect appears.
b) Instructors define different phases of a process and label them as segments. Students must then identify the corresponding sections in the video. This works similarly when matching theories.
c) When watching a video recording of a kindergarten scene, a job interview, or other real-life footage, the goal is to identify specific typical aspects or mistakes.
Video editor: Comments
Comments can be placed at a specific point in the video. They can highlight key statements, add additional information, or prepare for the following video section. Each comment is marked with the name of the person who created it.
During playback, the video automatically stops at the commented point. To continue, the comment must be actively closed or the play button clicked again. This is the key difference to annotations.
Comments can be created as text or as video comments. Video comments can be recorded directly via webcam in OpenOlat, imported as a file, or embedded via a link: this creates a "video within a video" at that point.
Video editor: Quiz
Add individual quiz questions to your video. There are currently 12 different question types to choose from. Simply select a question type from the list, and you’ll be taken to the quiz editor for that specific question. Enter the question and answer options here, then save your changes.
The specific tabs for the quiz question correspond to the selected question type.
Note
For more information on the different question types, see the chapter "Test Question Types".
After entering the information, you will return to the video editor, where you can continue configuring the quiz question for the video. Here, define:
- the starting point of the quiz question in the video -> "Start"
- how much time participants have to answer the quiz question.
- whether the question may be skipped
- whether multiple attempts are allowed
- the color used to highlight and display the question
The quiz questions in the video are "assessed" immediately as they are answered, but only to determine whether the answer is correct or incorrect. The points assigned to a question do not factor into the video's functionality. There is therefore no overall score at the end of the video. (However, if the same question is used in a test, for example, the points will be counted.)
If a question is answered incorrectly, and there is only one attempt allowed for that question and it cannot be skipped, the video will return to the beginning and participants will not be able to proceed.
Note
The quiz questions are primarily intended to engage students and encourage brief reflection. They are not suitable for complex assessment procedures.