You should avoid submitting video files directly to Blackboard. When submitting a video presentation for assessment, we recommend using YuJa to submit your file.
To make the most of this article, we recommend activating your account in YuJa and downloading Office 365 – it’s free as part of your University enrolment.
What Will I Need?
You may be asked to record a variety of videos for assessment, depending on your programme, although you are most likely to be asked to record a presentation that involves capturing your screen.
If you just need to record a video of yourself talking and nothing else (no screens etc), then you can do this with any device that has a camera and microphone.
What you’ll need:
- A Webcam (or phone camera)
- A Microphone (your webcam may have one built in)
Record using a laptop or desktop, instead of recording using your phone, if possible. Phones can produce different types of video file format that YuJa may not accept.
To record a presentation, or record content on your screen, there are a few different options. It’s important you find one that works well for you and is easy to use on your device.
What Tool Works Best?
We recommend using a recording tool which you are comfortable with. If you are familiar with one way of recording already, then we do not recommend trying to learn a new tool ahead of an assessment. Not all recording methods are suitable, however, and you may want to try some of the options below to find what works best with your device and with your way of working before you begin trying to record for assessment.
We recommend using one of the free tools available as part of your university membership, such as YuJa or PowerPoint, rather than considering third-party tools that cannot be supported by DTS.
If you have any issues while using these tools, please get in touch via the Self-Service Portal.
Recording with YuJa
YuJa
YuJa offers a browser-based recorder as well as a downloadable Software Capture application.
Both of these methods allow you to record audio and either a webcam, screen input, or both screen and webcam.
The Software Capture application allows for additional inputs and greater granularity in terms of the quality of the final video.
What you’ll need:
- A browser to record with the Browser Capture or a PC/Mac to record with the Software Capture application
- A Microphone (your webcam may have one built in)
- A Webcam (optional)
Creating recordings with either of these methods will automatically upload your video to the My Media are of YuJa.
YuJa offers a browser-based editor, which can be used to make cuts and more advanced edits to your videos.
Use YuJa for:
- Recording just camera and audio input
- Recording PowerPoint or other slide presentations with or without camera
- Recording on-screen demonstrations with or without camera
- Recording multiple camera/screen inputs (only via the Software Capture Application)
Other ways to record your screen
PowerPoint
PowerPoint has an in-built recorder to let you record your presentation with narration, your presentation with narration and a camera input (Office 365), or just your screen. You have access to Office 365 for free with your university enrolment.
What you’ll need:
- Microsoft Office (PowerPoint)
- A Microphone (your webcam may have one built in)
- A Webcam (optional)
If you want to record a presentation with slides, you can do this in PowerPoint.
This Microsoft Office support article covers the method for Office 365, earlier versions of Windows, Mac OS and PowerPoint online. This option can be found on the ‘Slide Show’ tab under ‘Record Slide Show’. PowerPoint presentations cut audio whilst changing slides, so take a brief pause before moving to the next slide.
If you want to record something which isn’t in PowerPoint, You can record a section of your screen, by clicking on the ‘Insert’ tab and selecting ‘Screen Recording’.
Be aware that there is no in-built editor for cutting out sections, but you can re-record individual slides if you need to.
Presentations created using either of these methods can be
- saved as a PowerPoint presentation
- exported as a video
Please note that saving a Powerpoint file as a video can greatly increase the file size. Unless instructed otherwise by your lecturer, we recommend that you choose the Standard quality setting when exporting to video.
Another way to reduce file size is to compress images in the presentation. See our guide Reducing file size for online submission or this Microsoft support page: Reduce the file size of a picture in Microsoft Office.
MS Teams
You can set up and record a Teams meeting - see Microsoft Teams: Making a recording.
The recording will be saved in your university OneDrive in a folder marked Recordings and will automatically be deleted after 90 days.
Screen recording for Mac
Mac users can download Office 365 for Mac as part of their university membership. Alternatively, Mac has its own screen recording tools available.
With macOS, press Shift-Command (⌘)-5 on your keyboard to see all the controls you need to record video and capture still images of your screen. Use these onscreen controls to select whether to record the entire screen, record a selected portion or capture a still image. If you are using an older version of macOS, you can record the screen with QuickTime Player.
Export at a lower resolution to export to mp4.
Uploading Video to YuJa
You should not upload video files directly to Blackboard assignments for assessment. Video files should, generally be uploaded to the University’s Learning Capture platform (YuJa).
Leave yourself plenty of time before the deadline. If you’re unsure, ask for help.
For more information see YuJa For Assessment
You may be allowed to use your university OneDrive to share a link for submission.
Always check with your lecturer to ensure your mode of submission is appropriate.
