Streaming Video Options for Class Use

Account Creation

You can view and share videos for courses without creating an account. However, if you would like the ability to create video clips and playlists, you will need to create an account in Filmakers.

To create a new account, or to login to an existing account, select the user icon in the upper right corner of the page:

Linking to Videos in Blackboard

On each video's landing page, directly beneath the video viewer and film title, there is a panel of options.

To link directly to this video's landing page in Blackboard

1. Select the option labeled: </> Embed/Link
2. Copy the first link provided (the permanent link)
3. Paste into the URL field in your Blackboard Web Link editor (or other appropriate location)

Embedding a Video Viewer into Blackboard

1. Select the </> Embed/Link option from the panel below the film's title on the video landing page
2. Copy the iframe embed code. This will be the second option in the popup window.
   
    
3.  In the Blackboard, select Item from the Build Content menu.
   
    
4. Select the HTML button in the text editor.
   
    
5. Paste the iframe code into the pop up screen and click the Update button.
6. Enter any necessary additional information (e.g. title, description, etc.), and click the Submit button.

Account Creation

Creating an account in Kanopy allows you to save videos to playlists for your courses and create video clips from larger films (which can also be added to playlists). You will also be able to share videos, clips, and playlists with students in your Blackboard course site.

To create an instructor account in Kanopy,

1. Select the "sign up" button at the top of the screen.
2. Enter your name and email address, then create a password.

You'll receive an email asking you to validate your email address. Once you have followed the directions in this email, you can login to Kanopy and begin searching for videos.

Linking to Videos in Blackboard

The landing pages for individual videos, playlists, and watchlists, will all have Share buttons, which give you the option to copy and paste a link to a specific Kanopy page, or to embed video content directly into Blackboard with an iframe embed code.
 

If you would like to simply link to a video, copy the Share link to your course site just as you would any other website link.

Embedding a Video Viewer into Blackboard

1. Select "Embed"
   
    
2. Copy the generated iframe code.
3.  In the Blackboard, select Item from the Build Content menu.
   
   
    
4. Select the HTML button in the text editor.
   
    
5. Paste the iframe code into the pop up screen and click the Update button.
6. Enter any necessary additional information (e.g. title, description, etc.), and click the Submit button.

*Note: If you receive a DRM-related playback error message while viewing in Blackboard, it is likely a browser-related issue. As of March 2019, Firefox is the suggested browser for avoiding these errors.

Account Creation

Swank requires account creation in prior to browsing or searching the film database.
When prompted, select the Instructor option to create the appropriate type of account. If you already have an account, select the "I already have an account" option to login.

Navigating Swank

Swank offers and impressive variety and number of films; but its user interface can be difficult to navigate. When you first login to Swank, you will only see the films that the Rice Library has licensed.

1. To search or browse all licensed and unlicensed content, select the Advanced Search option in the upper right corner of the page, near the search field.
   
    
2. Next, select "All" from the Licensed drop-down menu. If you would like to browse by subject, you can choose an option from the Subjects & Themes drop-down, then click Search.
   
    
3. If you are searching for a specific film, enter any relevant information (title, director, etc.), make sure the Licensed and Subject & Themes drop-downs are set to "All", and click Search.

Requesting a Film

You will find a Request button below the film image on search results pages, as well as on individual film pages. Click this button, and a pop-up window will appear. Please enter the date by which you need this film, along with the related course number, and a brief description of how the film will be used. E.g. "I'll be assigning this film in my addictions counseling class as a demonstration of addict behaviors." You will receive a confirmation email after submitting your request, as well as when the film becomes available for viewing.

Linking to a Video in Blackboard

You can link to Swank videos in Blackboard by clicking the Copy Direct Link button, and pasting the link into the URL field in your Blackboard Web Link editor (or other appropriate location). Swank does not generate iframe embed codes for videos.

Note: The Copy LMS Link button generates an <a> href link that includes default text. If you add links in Blackboard with Web Link feature of the Build Content menu, you do not want this link. Use the Copy Direct Link button instead.