I feel like I am missing something when it comes to using the online recorder when creating an...

Mike.B.559

I feel like I am missing something when it comes to using the online recorder when creating an assignment. 

 

First of all, only an instructor (not a student) appears to be able to use the inline audio recorder to add an audio attachment to an assignment. Is this the case?

 

And second, the workflow (attached here) does not seem to make sense to me. Can someone please clarify?

 

Many thanks!

 

 

[Deleted User]

Hey @Mike Barker​ ,

 

For learners to be able to add video notes or audio to an assignment, they'll need to be given permission to do so in Roles and Permissions. You may need to reach out to your Brightspace Administrator for her with this.

 

As for adding a Video Note inline, try doing so through the Insert Stuff button in the HTML editor. Brightspace Help has a helpful article: Create and insert a video note in HTML Editor

 

If you're wanting audio added inline with a player, try recording the video to your device and:

1. In the HTML Editor, click Insert Stuff < My Computer and choose your audio file. Then, click Upload.
2. Give the audio file a title in the Link Text field. (required) and choose whether you want the video to start playing automatically when learners arrive on the page.
3. Click Insert.
4. The audio will now appear in the HTML Editor.

Suggest adding a transcript as a link following the audio to make sure that all learners have equal access to the information in the audio file!

Mike.B.559

Thanks Amber! I'll check with my admin re permissions. Re adding Video Notes inline...actually, I'm comfortable with that...but my primary issue is wanting to record and add Audio directly from the Insert Stuff menu. You can see a discussion currently underway on the topic [Archived Content] here. The steps you list require users to record using a separate audio recorder, save the file, then upload. I want that all (recording, saving, inserting) to happen in the browser.

[Deleted User]

Hey @Mike Barker​, not a technical solution, but could instructors add a little note to assignments or discussions that require audio that students who aren't comfortable sharing video are welcome to obscure it? Maybe a construction paper taped over a webcam, or putting their finger in front of a cell phone/tablet camera?

 

The benefit to using the Video Note tool is that it's both inline and also does the Closed Captioning for you so everyone has equal access to the information.

Mike.B.559

Ha! Yes, the old "sticky over the webcam" solution. Not ideal but workable. As to your comment about "equal access to information"...I would raise a couple of issues:

 

(1) what makes an audio file created online different from an uploaded audio file? Neither will have closed captions.

(2) for those learning a language, "listening" is a distinct skill targeted by instructors. Of course, there are situations in which a learner may have a hearing deficit (or be Deaf) which makes listening practice particularly challenging or infeasible...and in these instances, instructors can develop an alternative approach for that student. But for students who are working on listening proficiency, having easy access to closed captions may defeat the purpose of the activity. Now they are practicing reading rather than listening.

(3) "speaking" is another distinct skill targeted by language instructors and asking a beginner-level student to record a video of themselves speaking can be hugely stressful...even with a sticky over the camera. I would compare it to the way students are willing to take risks in a text-based chat as opposed to speaking up in class. It just feels safer to record an audio clip than a video. *

(4) appearance. Take a look at the two possible Discussion Forum posts (below) and imagine them as a series of posts in a thread:

 

Video Notes:

Audio Files:

Lastly, if the issue with creating an Audio Note option is rooted in accessibility, a possible solution might be to adapt the Video Note recorder to provide an audio option...and adapt the Video Note player to remove the enlarged video playback area. This would allow whatever machine translation is going on in the background to continue...whether for straight audio or video (with audio) input.

 

* Addendum: we also teach ASL in our university and students are regularly asked to record themselves signing. While this may make sense in the context of a signed language, it does not mean that it's easy or comfortable for all students. For some students, recording these videos (and seeing themselves on video) can be extremely stressful.

 

 

[Deleted User]

All valid considerations for your learners as well as those who may need future accommodations @Mike Barker​. Suggest you search for an idea such as this in the Product Idea Exchange (which you should see in the top navbar when logged in). From there, you can upvote the idea if it already exists, or submit your idea!

Mike.B.559

On it! The goal would be to have the ability to record audio everywhere via the "Insert Stuff" menu!

 

If others would also like to support this idea, there are three related posts on the PIE:

 

• D722
• D755
• D3354

Clea.Mahoney3774

Thanks for writing this up @Mike Barker​ ! We have major pain points with the "upload audio recording" at NYU as well, so I'm off to upvote the ideas you shared.