Planning an in-class activity with VideoANT? Want your students to record their comments to each other on a Canvas discussion board or peer review activity? Then you’ll want to take advantage of our headsets (headphones and microphone), which are stored in the office across the hall from the labs (088) and available for your use. Below are step-by-step instructions, with screenshots, for configuring the headsets on the computer (this is unfortunately not an automatic process, nor do the computers remember the configuration after they’ve been rebooted) and for recording media comments on Canvas. As always, I’m happy to help you during class if you’d like someone to walk your students through the steps.

Configuring the Headsets

1. Plug in the headset cord to the USB port on the left side of the monitor.
2. On the desktop, right click on the sound icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Click Playback Devices on the menu (this configures the output sound).
4. In the Playback Devices window, click on Headset Earphone, and then click Set Default. 
5. A green check mark will appear next to the Headset Earphone icon. Click OK. If your activity only involves students listening with the headsets, then you’re done. If you want them to record audio, then proceed to the next step. 
6. Right click again on the sound icon in the bottom right corner of the desktop.
7. This time, select Recording Devices.
8. In the Recording Devices menu, click on Headset Earphone, and then click Set Default. 
9. A green check mark will appear next to the Headset Earphone icon. Click OK. Now you’re ready to go.

Recording Media Comments on Canvas

As of October 2015, this ONLY works in the Chrome browser, so please instruct your students to use Chrome if you want them to record comments on Canvas. Please also have them make sure the toggle switch on the top of the monitor is in the far right position (if it is to the left, the camera will be blocked).

1. In the “Reply” box on the Canvas discussion board, click the Upload/Record Media button. 
2. A window will open, and you will need to click Allow to grant Flash access to the camera (or if you are doing audio-only comments, to the microphone). 
3. You may also see a pop-up asking for permission for Canvas to access the camera/microphone. If so, click Allow.
4. You may get yet another prompt from Flash asking you to allow use of the camera and microphone. If so, click Allow and Close.
5. Please note that it may take awhile for the camera image to load, but it will, and you’ll see a red dot over the recording image. Click anywhere in that image to begin recording. 
6. When you’re done recording, the audio/visual file will appear as a link in the “Reply” box. Click Post Reply.

As always, if you have any questions, let Ann or Kimberlee know.

By Ann Shivers-McNair