Step-By-Step
Adding Streaming Audio and Video Files
(Text version)

1. Many audio and video files are too large in file size to be practically uploaded to Blackboard course site then downloaded by students. For this reason ITS has configured a Streaming Real Media server to be used in conjunction with the Blackboard course sites. As a free service, ITS will convert any audio or video file to a Streaming Real Media format. They will also digitize any VHS (either NTSC or PAL), DVC, DVD or CD media into streaming Real Media format. Real streaming media format allows the video or audio to be "streamed" to the user allowing for extremely large file sizes to be viewed with very little downloading time.

2. If you have such media and would like it transferred or digitized into streaming Real Media format, contact Neal Hirsig at: nhirsig@tufts.edu or 617-627-4026.

3. The media will be digitized or transferred to a streaming Real media format and placed on the Real Media Server. You will then be sent a URL to access the material. The URL can be added to you blackboard course site in a variety of ways. To view Real Media files the user must have Real media Player installed on their computer. This is a very common media player and can be download for free at the http://www.real.com web site. The URL will have the following format:

• http://media.ase.tufts.edu:8080/ramgen/folder/file.rm

4. You can add this URL as a link to any Blackboard content areas or folders. To add a Real Media link to a content area of folder:

• Log in to the Blackboard site as usual:
• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area you would like to add the Real Media link. This will display the Root Level of the content area. Any content or folders that have been previously added to the area will be listed. If you want to place the Real Media link in a folder, click on the folder name, This will display the Folder Level of the folder.
• Click on the "Add External Link" button at the top of the page.This will display the Add External Link form.
• Type in a name for the Real Media link in the box marked "Name".
• Type in the URL for the Real Media link in the box marked "URL".
• You can add a description of the item in the box marked "Description".
  
• You can "attach" a file to this item that further explains this Real Media link. In practice, this is usually an image file displayed "inline" on the page with the link. If you want to display an image file (JPG, GIF or PNG) inline on the page with the link, click on the "Browse" button. This will display your computer's file locater dialogue box. Using the dropdown box on the top of the file locator, locate the directory and folder that contains the image file you want to display. Click on the name of the file then click on the "Open" button on the file locator. The locator dialogue box will disappear and the path to the image file will be located in the box next to the "Browse" button.
• Use the "Special Actions" dropdown box and select "Display media file within the page" DO NOT ADD A LINK NAME.
  
• Under the sections marked "Options", decide if you want the item to be visible to students. Leaving the default "Yes" radio button will make the item visible to students. Selecting the "No" radio button will hide the item from students. You will always be able to see a hidden item in the control panel.
• If you want the link to open in a new window, select the "Yes" radio button marked "Launch Item in external window". Since the Real Media file will open in the Real Media Player this option is mute.
• If you want to track the number of students that view this Real Media file select the "Yes" radio button marked "Do you want to track number of views?".
• Leave the "Add Metadata" radio button set to "No". - This function does not work in this version of Blackboard.
• You can choose a certain date and time for the item to become visible to students and/or a date and time to make the item hidden from students. To make the item visible to students at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display After" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the item to become visible to students. If you want the folder to become hidden at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display Until" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the item to become hidden from students. You will always be able to see a hidden item in the control panel.
  
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. If you chose to add an inline image a "File Options" page will be displayed. If so, select the options you want for the image and click on "Submit". A receipt will be displayed telling you that the item has been up updated. Click on the "OK" button to return to the Root level of the content area or the Folder Level of the folder. The link should now be displayed.
• It is always a good idea to go back to the course site and view any item you have added as a student would view that item (not in the control panel). To return to the course site click on the course site name in the "crumb trail" at the top of the page.

3. Students view this Real Media link by clicking on the proper Content area button. The link will be displayed. If you put the link in a folder, the student first clicks on the content area button and then the folder name.

4. To remove a link item completely:

• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area you displayed the link. This will display the Root Level of the content area. Any content or folders that have been previously added to the area will be listed. If you placed the link in a folder, click on the folder name, This will display the Folder Level of the folder.
• Click on the "Remove" button to the right of the item name. A warning will be displayed. Click "OK". The item is now removed completely.

5. A Real Media link can also be added using the built-in WYSIWYG editor. To add a link using the WYSIWYG editor see Blackboard Step-By-Step - Using the WYSIWYG editor.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Step-By-Step procedure contact the Tufts Blackboard Administrator at: nhirsig@tufts.edu