Courses in health care innovation will sometimes ask you to record audio and video and submit the files to assignments or embed them in presentations. You might be asked to give a short presentation as part of a project, or you may have the option to submit a multimedia file as your weekly discussion post.


Canvas Media Recorder

To record simple audio and video in courses, you may use any tool with which you are comfortable. We recommend using the Canvas Media Recorder. 

To get started, review:

  1. Directions for how to record media using the Canvas rich content editor, from the Canvas Student Guide. Use this for adding audio or video in a discussion.
    The location of the Canvas media recorder in the rich content editor of a discussion forum.
  2. Directions for how to record or upload a media file as your submission to an assignment, from the Canvas Student Guide. Use this for adding audio or video to non-discussion assignments.
    The user interface for recording media in a Canvas assignment.


Panopto Capture Video Recorder

For more complex media recordings like delivering a slide presentation, use the Panopto Capture Video Recorder. To get started with Panopto Capture, use the following directions.



Creating the Recording

We recommend the most up-to-date version of Google Chrome to create recordings with Panopto, but you may also use Firefox. To create a recording using Panopto:

  • From the Canvas discussion post interface, click the Panopto logo on the top menu bar of the rich content editor.
    If you do not see it, you may need to select the 3 vertical dots to view more.
    The Canvas Rich Text Editor menu bar with the Panopto button selected.
  • From the Class Recordings modal dialog box, choose the Record tab.
    The Class Recordings modal dialog box, which appears when users click the Panopto Button in Canvas.
  • On the Record tab, use the dropdown menu to choose where you want to save your recording.
    Remember this location, as you will need to go back to it later to post your recording to the discussion forum.
  • Under How Would You Like to Record, choose the Capture (Browser) option to record your presentation directly from your web browser.
    The "How Would You Like to Record" options in the Panopto-Canvas interface, with Capture (Browser) selected.
  • This will bring up the Panopto Capture interface in a new tab or browser window. From the Capture interface:
    • Use the Audio button to make sure you are recording from the correct microphone.
    • Use the Video button to make sure you are using the correct webcam.
      You can also turn your video off entirely by deselecting any webcam.
    • Use the Screens and Apps button to share your presentation slides.
      See more about sharing your presentation slides in the Sharing Your Presentation section below.
    • Use the gear iconin the lower right of the interface to set the following preferences:
      • Recording options: HD.
      • Stream output: Combine all streams into one.
      • Video layout: Picture in Picture.
    • Use the X at the bottom of the options screen to return to the recording interface.
      Recording Options, Stream Output, and Video Layout in the Panopto recorder interface.
  • To record your presentation, click the red circle at the bottom of the recording interface.
    You will receive a countdown before the recording begins.
    A screenshot of the Panopto recording interface with the countdown to recording start at 1.
  • When you are done, press the red circle again to stop the recording.
    You will be taken to another screen that will allow you to change the title of your video, enter a description, and (optionally) edit the video.


Sharing Your Presentation

To share your presentation slides as part of a Panopto recording:

  • From Microsoft PowerPoint (or your preferred presentation app), put your slides in presentation mode.
  • From the Panopto Capture interface, use the Screens and Appsbutton to share the window with your slides.
    • In Mozilla Firefox, you will be able to see a list of window titles from your browser.
    • In Google Chrome, you will be able to see thumbnail images of windows.

If your slide presentation blocks your ability to see the rest of your screen, most presentation apps have the ability to present in a window rather than in full-screen mode. To do this in Microsoft PowerPoint:

  • Click on the Slide Show menu at the top of the screen.
  • From the ribbon, click Set Up Slide Show.
  • Under Show Type, choose Browsed by an Individual (window).
    An image of Microsoft PowerPoint depicting: the Slide Show top menu item, the Set Up Slide Show ribbon button, and the Show Type section of the Set Up Show dialog box.
  • Click Okay to confirm the new setting.


Posting Your Video

  • Once you have finished recording your video, you will be taken to a screen that will allow you to change the title of your video, re-record it, or record new—which means recording an additional video.
    On that screen, you will see a green loading bar as your video processes.
  • Once that screen indicates that your video is ready, you may switch back to the Canvas discussion browser window or tab, and your video will appear, ready to post.
    A screenshot of the Panopto-Canvas Class Recordings modal dialog box with a video ready to insert into a discussion post.
  • Click the blue Insert button to embed the video in your discussion post.
  • Remember to click the red Post Reply button to submit your discussion post to the forum.


Editing Your Video (Optional)

After you are done recording and before you post it, you will have the option to do some basic editing to your video. This includes cutting dead air at the start and end of your video, as well as long pauses and filler words in the middle.

We would recommend only using the editing option to cut out dead air at the start and end. Further editing may be time consuming and is usually unnecessary. And further, it is contrary to the spirt of practicing your pitch skills in a way that simulates pitching live.

If you choose to edit your video, you can learn more from the Panopto support site.