Technology

Panopto

Panopto is recording software that enables video capture of a classroom session, or screencasting a lecture directly into video format. It operates through Canvas - anyone with "teacher" access to Canvas can turn on Panopto.

Because recordings made via Panopto are kept on a University server, they are subject to archiving after a few years. If you intend to make videos as part of a permanent library, Panopto is not an optimal solution due to the storage and deletion policies. Panopto was originally conceived as a way to record (especially large) lecture classes so that students missing the lecture for valid reasons (such as band member or athlete participating in a University event) could still witness the class session.

Recording with Panopto inside Canvas

The simple method to using Panopto is to record on-screen within the browser:

  1. Panopto must first be accessed from the left-side menu from within Canvas. Click SETTINGS and then the NAVIGATION tab. Drag "Panopto Cloud" to the top half of the screen and click SAVE.
  2. Click the Panopto Cloud link on the left side navigation.
  3. Click the CREATE button near the top.
  4. Select Panopto Capture
  5. A new tab opens. Allow access to your camera and microphone, and click the red circle to record.
  6. When finished, click the red square to stop. The review page will load, where you can add a description. On this page, click Manage Access on the bottom left.
  7. A new tab loads. You can choose to restrict access only to "specific people" (you'll need to enter the student email addresses), or, for a simpler choice, select "anyone at your organization with the link," then click SAVE CHANGES This will keep the video out of the public view of uploaded Panopto videos.
  8. At the top of this popup is the link which you can share with students from a Canvas Page or Module. There is also an Embed option to use with a Canvas page.

Alternately, you can download the desktop client (steps below) to record without being inside Canvas.

Panopto desktop client

One-time setup

  1. Panopto must first be accessed from the left-side menu from within Canvas. Click SETTINGS and then the NAVIGATION tab. Drag "Panopto Cloud" to the top half of the screen and click SAVE.
  2. Click the Panopto link on the left side navigation.
  3. Click the CREATE button near the top. Select "Record a New Session"
  4. You'll be prompted to download the software. After download, run the .exe file on your hard drive.
  5. After install, manually click the Recorder program on your desktop, or otherwise again click the CREATE button within Canvas, and the Recorder will open.

Ongoing method

  1. From within Module, click the Panopto link, and click RECORD to launch the Panopto-Recorder (or just launch it from your desktop client).
  2. Adjust inputs (PPT, Screen share) if desired. Verify microphone (and webcam?) is working.
  3. Click the big RECORD button. Speak the lecture as though talking to students.
  4. Click the STOP button when done.
  5. You will be taken to the Status tab. It will upload automatically.
  6.  When it is finished, you will see links to View, Edit, or Share.
  7. Under Share, you can elect to make the video Public (top-right button) and then receive a fully-public URL. This URL can then be deployed in Canvas under Modules or via a link in Pages.
  8. Encoding is quick; even a one-hour lecture should take less than ten minutes.