How to Create a Video Assignment in Canvas

This guide will help faculty create a Canvas assignment requiring students to use Panopto to create and submit a video. Students will use the Panopto integration in the Rich Content Editor (RCE) to record or upload their videos, embed them in the assignment, and then manually submit their work.

Contents

Part One: Create an assignment folder in Panopto for your course

Part Two: Create an assignment in Canvas that requires students to submit a video

Part Three: Closing the Panopto assignment folder once your course has concluded 

Troubleshooting Tips

Additional Resources

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Part One: Create an assignment folder in Panopto for your course

If students would like to upload or record videos in Panopto for assignments or discussion posts, the course must have an “assignment folder” created for that functionality to work. “Assignment folder” is simply the term Panopto uses for enabling student video submissions. This was functionality was not required in MyCourses, but it IS REQUIRED IN CANVAS. You must do this again each semester with every course that requires student video submissions. These settings don't transfer when you import/copy a course, nor do they transfer from a course blueprint.

1. Log in to Canvas and navigate to your course.
   
   
   
   
   

2. Scroll down on the navigation menu to the Third Party Tools area and click Panopto.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Once you have clicked Panopto (1), navigate to the upper righthand corner of the Panopto screen in Canvas. Click on the three dots in the upper righthand corner (2). Click settings from the dropdown menu open the Panopto settings.
   NOTE: If you do not see the ellipses/the settings menu, make sure you're using Chrome as there is a known issue with Firefox. 
   
   
   Note: Do not open the Canvas settings (in the Course Navigation menu). Please open the Panopto settings using the directions in step 3 (above).
   
   
   
4. On the Overview tab of the folder settings that appears, select Create Assignment Folder.
   

Part Two: Create an assignment in Canvas that requires students to submit a video

If you already have an assignment setup in Canvas to accept video submissions, you don't need to do this. However, if you need to create your assignment, please follow the steps below.

1. Click Assignments in the course navigation menu.
   
   
   
   
   

2. Select +Assignment to create a new assignment.
   
   
   
   

3. In the assignment editor, fill out the assignment and instructions in the text box if needed. Instructions for what students can expect from the submission process are linked here. IMPORTANT: Make sure that the Submission Type is set to Online and then set to Text Entry so that students have access to the Panopto embed tool.

   

4. Click Save at the bottom to save the assignment, and then select Publish when you are ready for students to view.

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Part Three: Closing the Panopto assignment folder once your course has concluded 

Once your course is over, it's best practice to close the assignment folder. If you don't close it, then students who took that course can submit videos to that folder indefinitely. 

1. Navigate to your course in Canvas and select Panopto from the course navigation.
    
2. Select the course folder, also known as the parent folder, NOT the assignment folder. It will NOT say assignments in the folder name. 
   
   Here is an example of a course folder: 
   0645 - ATE0001 Vet. Nurse New Student Success Mode:Online Class:3448 Instructor:Gorham
   
   Here is an example of an assignment folder: 
   0645 - ATE0001 Vet. Nurse New Student Success Mode:Online Class:3448 Instructor:Gorham [assignments]
    
3. Select the ellipses in the top righthand corner (1) then select Settings from the dropdown menu (2). 
   
4. In the next screen, under the Assignment Folder section, select Close to close the assignment folder. 
   
5. A pop-up window will appear to confirm that you want to close the folder, as this action cannot be undone. Select OK to close the folder. 
   
   Note: Closing an assignment folder prevents viewers of this folder from accessing and adding content to the assignment folder. The assignment folder and its content will remain accessible to you as a creator.

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Troubleshooting Tips

For Faculty

• Assignment Not Accepting Video Submissions: Double-check that Text Entry is selected as the submission type.

• Multiple Course Folders and Assignment Folders: If you see multiple course folders and course assignment folders in your Panopto dropdown menu for which you're not an instructor, please email [e-mail] with a screenshot immediately. 
  

For Students

• Panopto Tool Missing in RCE: Advise students to check their browser settings or switch to a supported browser like Google Chrome.
  
  

• Video Not Embedding Correctly: Ensure students click Insert after uploading their video in Canvas.
  
  

• Submission Error: Remind students to click Submit Assignment after embedding their video.
  
  

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Additional Resources

• Student Guide: How to Submit a Video Assignment in Canvas

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Have Questions? Contact the Academic Technology Support Team

[e-mail] 

 Phone at 727-341-3500

(Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST).

After-hours or weekend assistance? Contact the Technical Support Center at 727-791-2795 or [e-mail]

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