Naming conventions for videos and Channels

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Benefits

Decide on a naming convention before you start making your videos. A consistent way of naming videos increases searchability (Students can search for videos in MS Stream) and helps students easily identify the:

  • Video topic (content),
  • Sequence of the video (if it is part of a series),
  • Relationship of the video to a module,

It will also save you time finding and organising your videos.

Naming guidelines

When giving your video a Name consider the following:

  1. Chose a student friendly name that lets them know what the video is about.
  2. Keep Names short and concise. Less than 100 characters. Use the Description field to provide additional information.
  3. Include key details that will help you find the video again easily and remind you what it is and who it is for.
    • Use Keywords in the name to improve searchability, for example, when students are looking for videos during revision.
    • Use the module code as an easy identifier.
  4. Be consistent in the way you title your videos for a module. Agree to use the same convention with colleagues teaching on the same module and programme.
  5. You don’t need to include the date of the recording. This information is automatically associated with your video.
  6. Think about the order of the elements in the name:
    • Start or prefix the name with the most important element,
    • Or what will be most consistent across all the video names.
  7. Use numbering to indicate a series of  videos that should be watched in order.
  8. Avoid special characters in the name, such as ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) ` ; < > ? , [ ] { } ‘ ” |

Examples

Name for a video providing learning material

Suggested format: Module Code – Week – Short descriptive title

  • AB1CD3 Week 1 – Introduction to molecules

Name for a short series of related videos

Suggested format: Module Code – Week – Number – Short descriptive title

  • AB1CD3 Week 1 – 1. What is a business plan
  • AB1CD3 Week 1 – 2. Drafting a business plan
  • AB1CD3 Week 1 – 3. Refining your business plan

Name for a generic instructional video to be used across modules

Suggested format: Application / Topic – Short title to illustrate the task 

  • Excel – How to edit cells

Name for a sequence of instructional videos

Suggested format: Application / Topic – Number – Short title to illustrate the task 

  • Excel – Part 1. Producing a spreadsheet
  • Excel – Part 2. Updating a spreadsheet

Naming Channels in Microsoft Stream

You may wish to group related videos together in a Channel.

When saving your recordings to Microsoft Stream you can associate the video with a Group or Channel. This can help you manage the organisation of your videos. You can search and filter your videos by Group and Channel.

A Group represents either a Module on Blackboard or a Microsoft Team. When you create a Channel in Stream it must be associated it with a Group.

A Stream Group for a Blackboard Module is set up automatically using the Blackboard course code. Do not edit the name of a Stream Group.

Think of Channels as folders you can use within a Group to sub-divide videos into useful categories. Students can search for Channels in Stream.

Use the same naming guidelines for channels as you use for videos. Use channels to organise videos by:

  • Topic or subject,
  • Timeframe.

Suggested format: Module Code – Week – Short title

AB1CD3 – Week 1 – Business Plan