Interactive Learning with Canvas Studio

Video Annotations and Timeline Discussions

This is the second article focusing on Canvas Studio. For information on video recording, editing, captioning, and quizzing go to Introduction to Canvas Studio.

Let’s explore two additional features of Canvas Studio: video annotations and timeline discussions. These tools enhance video engagement and foster student participation and collaboration.

Video Annotations

Video annotations in Canvas Studio are used to improve student engagement and understanding. By adding annotations, instructors can emphasize key points, provide additional context, and guide students through complex concepts. Students can add annotations to videos to indicate specific instances they want to highlight for viewers to watch.

Once you have recorded or uploaded a video to Canvas Studio, follow these instructions to create video annotations. Feel free to share these directions with students to assist them in creating video annotations easily, too:

• Access the Video: Open the video in Canvas Studio.
• Enter Annotation Mode: Click on the three ellipsis (black arrow) and then select “Annotations” (blue arrow).

• Add Annotations: Navigate to the specific point in the video where you want to add an annotation and click the “Add Annotation” button located at the bottom of the screen/video to open a panel on the right side of the screen. 

• Customize Annotations: Enter information requested.
• Save Annotations: Click “Save” to apply your annotations to the video.

Timeline Discussions

Timeline discussions in Canvas Studio allow students to engage with video content by commenting at specific points in the video. This feature creates a more interactive and focused learning experience, where students can ask questions and share their thoughts in real-time. They can learn from each other’s insights, as well as from the instructor. This can improve understanding and foster a collaborative learning environment. To get started with timeline discussions:

• Access the Video: Open the video in Canvas Studio.

• Enter Comment Mode: Click on the “Comments” tab.
• Add Comments: Navigate to the specific point in the video where you want to add a comment and click the “Add Comment” button.
• Engage with Peers: Enter your comment and click “Post.” You can also reply to comments from your peers, creating a discussion thread at that specific point in the video.
• Monitor and Participate: Regularly check the comments to engage in ongoing discussions and respond to any questions or insights from peers and the instructor.

For questions or further assistance with Canvas Studio, please refer to Canvas Studio: Engaging Higher Education and the Studio Guide (also available via a link on ITHelp). Also, you can always reach out to Online Learning at onlinelearningstaff@alliant.edu with questions.