Embed Kaltura Videos in Blackboard

Two processes are described on this page.

1. Embed Kaltura Videos in Bb Lesson Pages
   The process is used on HTML template pages, such as teh "Haystack" template, and should be used in all Onlien or Hybrid classes.
2. Embed Kaltura Videos in Bb Modules or Folders
   This process can be used when the course is not built using an Online or Hybrid template.

Embed Kaltura Videos in Bb Lesson Pages

This process is used for embedding Kaltura videos on HTML lesson pages (such as in OL's Haystack template pages). Typically, instructors who have gone through Online Learning's Faculty Certification will use this process.

1. Log in to Blackboard and navigate to the page where you want to embed a video
2. Open the page editor and position your cursor on the page where you want the video to appear
3. Click the Add Content button
4. Scroll to Kaltura Videos - Embed Media and click it
5. A popup will open. Wait for your media to load.
6. Locate the media you want to submit and click Embed to the right of the media
7. It will take a few seconds, but the popup will close and your media will be visible on the page
8. Click Submit at bottom right to finalize your edits

Embed Kaltura Videos in Bb Modules or Folders

This process is used for embedding Kaltura videos in Blackboard folders or modules. It should only be used if the course is not built using an Online or Hybrid template.

1. Log in to Blackboard and navigate to the fodler or module where you want to embed a video
2. Click the Build Content button at top. Near the bottom of the list, find Kaltura Videos - Embed Media and click it
3. A popup will open. Wait for your media to load.
4. Locate the media you want to submit and click Embed to the right of the media
5. It will take a few seconds, but the popup will close and your media will be visible on the page
6. Click Submit at bottom right to finalize your edits

You can edit the title of the video link and video description afterwards by clicking to Edit the embedded video.

How to Embed YouTube Videos in Blackboard

1. On a computer, go to the YouTube video you want to embed.
2. Click SHARE (this might be below the video)
3. From the list of Share options, click Embed.
4. From the box that appears, copy the embed code.
5. Navigate to the course page where you want to embed your media and open the page in the editor.
6. Place your cursor where you want the media to be embedded. You may need to press ENTER to move the cursor to a new line.
7. Click the Insert/edit media button on the toolbar.
8. Click Embed on the left side of the window that opens. See image below.
9. Paste the embed code in the field. Then Save.

Fix Videos Students Cannot See

You can see your Kaltura videos just fine... so why are students saying they cannot view them?

How to Troubleshoot Your Own Videos

First, remember that YOU own the media you are trying to view, so you have the permission to view that media whenever you are logged in to Kaltura. That includes being logged in to Blackboard, because the two are integrated.

But I can see the Kaltura video even when I am in student preview mode?!

Using student preview mode is a great troubleshooting strategy! However, that only emulates a student course role in Blackboard. It does not change your Kaltura user ID, so you are still able to view your own media because Kaltura identifies you as the owner of that media whether you are acting as a student or an instructor in Bb.

How can I check if my videos are visible to students?

Check the icon

If you added videos directly into your Blackboard learning modules, homepage, or folders, you can easily check if the icon for the video looks like this. Videos with this icon have proven to be problematic.

Fix these videos by embedding the Kaltura video in a Blackboard lesson page or an Item in Blackboard. Delete the video with the above icon when finished.

Test the link

If you have a link to a video that you can see but students say they cannot see, you can copy that link and paste it into a different browser. For example, if you are logged in to Blackboard in Firefox (and therefore also logged in to Kaltura in Firefox), you can open a second browser, such as Chrome (one in which you are NOT logged in to Blackboard) and paste the link there to test it.

Since you are not logged in to Kaltura in the second browser, you should see what anyone other than your Kaltura user account can -- or cannot -- see.

This method work only when you have the hyperlink. It is not an easy way to test embedded videos.

How to fix Your Kaltura Videos

If you have an embedded Kaltura video on a lesson page that users cannot play, they often see a message about not having permission or Access Denied. Sometimes the message is accompanied by a login form or a link to log in. Students do not have Kaltura log ins, so there is no way for students to open these videos. The problem with these videos is they are using a "bad" embed code. We know you got these codes from Kaltura, and we understand it is frustrating that these do not work.

The solution to these videos is to replace them. Follow these directions in the How to Embed Kaltura Videos tab above to get an embed code (or hyperlink) that will work.