Technology

Canvas Studio Student Guide

Last modified 10/22/2024

Canvas Studio is a video recording, management, and sharing tool that resides inside Canvas. It also provides cloud-based hosting of video files. It allows you to record with your webcam or record your screen, as well as store videos created elsewhere. Instructors can create video-based announcements, lesson materials, discussion forums, and assignments and provide audio and video feedback to student assignments. Instructors can also embed quiz questions within videos and view how long students watch videos. Canvas Studio also offers closed captioning and simple editing tools for videos. 

Canvas Studio is located in the left-hand Navigation menu within Canvas. 

Basics

  • Studio Navigation

Your Canvas Studio account displays three different sections that are used for navigation. The Navigation Toolbar, sort and filter options, and the media library made up of your individual media files and media collections.

  1. Navigation Toolbar: 
    1. Navigation Menu icon: This is located right next to the words My library and has three stacked horizontal bars. When selected, you can find the following:
      • My Library: where all your videos are stored
      • Shared with Me: contains videos that have been shared with you
      • Course Collections: shows videos placed within each course
      • Settings: where you can create groups and see your integrations 
  2. +Create button
    1. Search button 
    2. Studio Capture button
    3. Screencast-o-Matic button
    4. Add Media button
  3. Sort and Filter Options
    1. Sort by drop-down menu
    2. Filter by drop-down menu
    3. + Collection Button
  4. Media Library

  • Importing Videos into Canvas

Canvas Studio allows you to upload media files from your device. Studio supports uploading individual media files or multiple media files at once. The maximum file size for an upload is 10 GB. 

Studio also supports adding videos from YouTube and Vimeo via URL. 

To add your media to Canvas Studio:

  1. Select the Add Media button
  2. Option A: Drag and drop your files into the "Drag & Drop or Upload Media." 
  3. Option B: Select the Browse Files button 
    1. Select the files you want to upload
    2. Select the Upload button
  4. You will be able to view the progress of your media upload

To add a YouTube or Vimeo Video to Canvas Studio:

  1. Select the Add Media button
  2. Paste the YouTube or Vimeo URL in the box under the YouTube and vimeo logos
  3. Select the Add Video button

Note:

Uploading YouTube or Vimeo videos into Canvas wipes out the captions. It is recommended at this time to embed YouTube or Vimeo into Canvas directly instead of going through Canvas Studio if you need to preserve captions. 

  • Recording in Studio

Canvas Studio allows you to record both a screen capture and webcam capture. Canvas Studio currently has two options available for recording: Screencast-o-Matic (recommended) and Studio Capture (not recommended).

Note:

If you are using a University Owned device you will need to download Canvas Studio Screen Capture from Software Center. To do that:

  1. Open Software Center
  2. Select Applications from the side menu
  3. Select Canvas Studio Screen Capture
  4. Select Install

Screen Capture (Screencast-o-Matic)

  1. Select the +Create button and choose Screencast-o-Matic
  2. Select Screen  
    1. Note: If this is your first time you will be prompted to download the screen capture application. Install the software then repeat steps 1 & 2. 
  3. Select the Open Screen Recorder Launcher button from the pop up
  4. Once that loads you can move the box to include what you want to record on your screen
  5. Select the Rec button to begin recording 
  6. Select pause when needed 
  7. Select the pen tool to circle or draw on your screen capture while recording. 
  8. When finished select Done
  9. From the preview box you can add the Title and Description and use simple editing tools to edit your Video
  10. If you have completed any editing select the Done button when finished 
  11. Select Upload to upload the video to Canvas
  12. You will see a progress bar and an Upload Successful! message when it is completed
  13. Select Continue 
  14. The video is now in Canvas Studio in the My Library section 

Webcam Capture (Screencast-o-Matic)

  1. Select the +Create button and choose Screencast-o-Matic
  2. Select Webcam 
  3. If it asks for your permission to use the webcam and camera select allow
  4. Select Start Recording when you are ready
  5. You can choose Start Over if you need to restart your video
  6. Select Finish when you are done recording
  7. Give the video a title 
  8. Select Save Video
  9. The video is now in Canvas Studio in the My Library section

Dual Capture (Screencast-o-Matic)

  1. Select the +Create button and choose Screencast-o-Matic
  2. Select Both to record with both screen capture and webcam at the same time
  3. You should be able to move your webcam by dragging the webcam box to where you want it on the screen
  4. You can also switch back to just screen record or just webcam from here
    1. You can choose to use the screen capture tool to record with webcam instead of webcam capture
  5. Select the Rec button to begin recording 
  6. When finished select Done
  7. From the preview box you can add the Title and Description and use simple editing tools to edit your Video
  8. If you have completed any editing select the Done button when finished 
  9. Select Upload to upload the video to Canvas
  10. You will see a progress bar and an Upload Successful! message when it is completed.
  11. Select Continue 
  12. The video is now in Canvas Studio in the My Library section 

Studio Capture for Screen Recording (Not Recommended) 

  1. Select the +Create button and choose Studio Capture
  2. Studio Capture will launch and may ask for permission to access your webcam. Click allow to allow access
  3. You will now see the Studio Capture screen with four buttons along the bottom. From left to right these are Camera, Microphone, Screen Capture, and Start Recording
    1. Camera - Here you can choose the camera you wish to use, or you can choose to disable the camera 
    2. Microphone - Here you can choose the microphone you wish to use, or you can choose to disable the microphone
    3. Screen Capture - Here you can enable screen capture by clicking Enabled. You are then given three options: Tab, Window, or Entire Screen. Choose how you want to share your screen and click the Share button
    4. Start Recording  - Once you have you're settings the way you like, click here to begin recording
  4. When finished select the Finish button to end the recording
  5. Give your recording an appropriate title in the Title box and click Save Media
  6. The video is now in Canvas Studio in the My Library section 

  • Adding Closed Captioning

Adding Closed Captioning

  1. Select the video needing captioning
  2. Select  the Captions tab under the video player
  3. Select  the Request button
  4. Select the language the captions need to be in in the Captions Request pop-up
  5. Select Request 
  6. You will receive an email when the captions are complete

Editing and Publishing Closed Captioning 

  1. Select the Captions tab under the video player
  2. Select the three vertical dots to the right  of the processed captions
  3. Select Review and Publish
  4. Select the any captions on the left that need editing
  5. Edit them in the Caption Text box 
  6. Select Publish in the upper right to complete your review and enable captions in the video

  • Sharing Videos in Canvas

Individually Share Media

  1. Select the three more dots below the individual video in your My Library section
  2. Select Share Media
  3. Select the People tab
  4. Choose Can View or Can Edit from the drop down menu
  5. Type the name or email of the user you want to share with
    1. Or type the name of the group you want to share with
  6. Repeat above steps to share with more users
  7. Added users should now appear in the "Shared with" section

Individually Share Collections

  1. Select the three more dots below the collection in your My Library section
  2. Select Share Collection
  3. Select the People tab
  4. Choose Can View or Can Edit from the drop down menu
  5. Type the name or email of the user you want to share with
    1. Or type the name of the group you want to share with
  6. Repeat above steps to share with more users
  7. Added users should now appear in the "Shared with" section

  • Supported File Formats

Find updated information on Canvas Studio supported file formats here: What file formats does Canvas Studio support?

For more information on Canvas Studio basics please visit Instructure's website here: How do I use Canvas Studio?. There is a freely available learning module for students on Canvas Studio available in Canvas: Student Canvas Training Modules. 

How to Get Help

Technical assistance is available through the Illinois State University Technology Support Center at:



Explore Tech Topics