This page describes various tools available to instructors for conducting video-based assessments and related activities. VoiceThread, Discussions Plus, and Padlet are all tools that allow video uploads, but it can be hard to know which one to use. All three tools have strengths and weaknesses for any given activity, and VoiceThread and Discussions Plus send grades into the Canvas grade book. Read on for information that will clarify which tool is right for your activity.
Overall consideration: Will your activity benefit from the ability to use multiple slides or media objects within a single presentation?
Tool Comparison
- You want students to build, narrate, and submit a multi-slide multimedia presentation from scratch, either individually or as a group.
- You want all students to watch and comment on their peers’ presentations.
- You want students to have a web discussion (using voice, video, or text) within the context of a larger slide presentation.
- You want students to use a single VT to have a web discussion by choosing from multiple topics/prompts.
- You want students to contribute media/videos to a common class-wide presentation and record comments.
- You don't need to use SpeedGrader to grade student work in the activity (grades are still passed back to Canvas)
- You want students to discuss a single topic or question using video replies , whether graded or ungraded.
- You want students to comment on and annotate specific timestamps of their peers' submissions.
- You want to set individual due dates for both the posting and replying phases of the activity.
- You want to view student posts and grade them using Canvas's SpeedGrader tool.
- You want students to record or upload a video file that will be placed onto a shared 'bulletin board'.
- You want students to provide peer feedback on individual videos (via typed comments)
Questions?
To consult with an instructional designer about your pedagogical needs and the tools available, please contact oat@csustan.edu.
Updated: August 12, 2024