What is Kaltura?
Kaltura is a cloud-based media capture and storage application that integrates into the SMU learning management system, Canvas. SMU is exploring Kaltura’s video services as the strategic system to unify and deliver all video and audio media for traditional, hybrid and all online courses. As SMU currently leverages over five entirely separate systems to store and deliver video with varying degrees of cost and capability, the time is ideal to migrate into a single, powerful media delivery platform. Beyond simple playback of videos to all type of devices, Kaltura offers many features which instructors have requested including course video playback analytics, in-line quizzing, screencast capture, automated video captioning and easy desktop streaming. This tool also provides the ability to share videos among multiple courses and store images and audio files in addition to videos.
Managing and publishing user-generated audio/video course content is currently a laborious task which must be streamlined. Kaltura has the potential to improve the user process of uploading and presenting media for academic and even administrative needs. Integration with Canvas will create an environment of consistent course video delivery capability for all modes of courses within the university.
SMU’s Academic Technology Services is sponsoring this pilot of Kaltura throughout 2017 while we work to confirm its fit for our university community’s course content delivery needs. In the weeks ahead, we will be building out our pilot information and training program and website, and we will be engaging academic areas which currently depend heavily upon video content delivery. We are excited to add Kaltura to the powerful suite of eLearning resources we are assembling for the campus. If you’re an early adopter, Kaltura is active in Canvas now! If you are interested in participating more gradually in this Kaltura pilot program, please submit a ticket to the IT Help Desk or directly email Jason Warner, Director of Academic Technology Services. We’ll follow up with you soon with training and on-boarding opportunities.
Early Adopter! Get Started Now!
There are two ways to access the Kaltura app in your Canvas course: My Media and the Media Gallery. You will see both in the course navigation menu, and can rearrange accordingly via the Course Settings.
Use the Kaltura Video App to create, edit, and manage video and other media across all your courses in Canvas; for example, you can record yourself picture-in-picture narrating PPT slides. You can also create quizzes with the Kaltura Video App. Please visit the Kaltura service page at smu.edu/kaltura to see how to start using Kaltura in Canvas.
