PlayPosit (eduCanon)

What is PlayPosit?

PlayPosit is a free online tool that lets you create interactive video lessons called "bulbs". How?

• find, upload or create a video (YouTube, Vimeo and more)
• stop the video at different points and insert your questions, audio, text, images and links
• share your link to your video lesson
• review student participation and answers to your questions
• and much more!

How can I learn more and get started?

• Want to see what a PlayPosit bulb looks like? Try out one of the bulbs in this PlayPosit blog post: Teachers Turn Pop Culture Into Engaging Online Learning Videos
• View the Create a your First Bulb video and screenshots (26 second video)
• After you create an id, you can access one of the 300,000 free public interactive videos

What do I need to use PlayPosit?

• Computer speakers or headset (to listen to the video)
• Preferred: Latest version of Google Chrome (for PC's and Macs)
• Only if creating your own video: a webcam and a Gmail account (not ConnectMail) so you can logon to YouTube
  • Need headset or webcam suggestions? Check out How to Choose a Video Recording Headset or Webcam
• Technical Requirements according to PlayPosit
  • Sometimes, you or your students may need to clear your web browser's cache
  • What if my students or I cannot get our video to play? Check out these common technical issues and solutions

What will my students need to view my Zaption lesson?

Your students will need...

• Computer speakers or headset
• Preferred: latest versions of Google Chrome (for PC's and Macs)
  • Students can use any device except for Android phones
  • Can use latest versions of Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari
• Students do need an account, but they can logon with their ConnectMail Google account
  • You can allow your students to create their own video lessons as well

How do I create an interactive video?

Here are step-by-step instructions:

• Coming soon! (PDF)
• What videos can I use?
• How do I add audio, equations or images?
• How can I collaborate with my colleagues?
• What if I want to share my video with colleagues for professional development sessions?

How do I preview a bulb after I create it?

• On your Dashboard, in the upper right, click on Bulbs
• Click on the bulb's Options link, then click Preview

How do I make my interactive video (bulb) available to others?

In order for others to see your bulb, you must assign the bulb] to your class. To do this: Log in to PlayPosit.

• Option 1: On the Dashboard (Dash), create your bulb:
  • At the top, click on "Design Video Bulb", then add your questions
  • In the bulb, click on Finish Build
  • Click Assign to assign the bulb to a class, select a due date, and save your changes

• Option 2: If you've already created your bulb (picked your video), on the Dashboard (Dash) at the top, click on Bulbs
  • Click Assign to assign the bulb to a class, select a due date, and save your changes

• • Share the link with your students; students that are not yet registered for PlayPosit will have the option to create an account and jump into your class!
  • Since our students use ConnectMail, students should register, and search for your class in PlayPosit (Option 2)

How do I put my interactive video in Sakai?

In Sakai, you can make a link to your lesson or embed the lesson on a Sakai Lessons page.

OPTION 1: Make a link in Sakai to your interactive video

First, get the web address for the lesson

• Log in to Playposit
• On the Dashboard area (Dash), move your cursor over one of your bulbs and click on the Share link
• The web address of your presentation is displayed. Highlight the full address and copy it

Next, you can put a link to your video lesson in Resources, in Sakai Lessons, or almost anywhere else.

• In Resources
  • In the Resources area of your course site, click Add to the right of any folder and choose Add Web Link.
  • In the Web Address box, paste the web address you copied from PlayPosit.
  • In the Website Name box, type a name for the lesson that will appear to students.

• In Sakai Lessons
  • On a Lessons page in Sakai, click Add Resource
  • In the text editor box, paste the web address you copied from PlayPosit. Click Save
  • Now click on the Edit button to the left of the link. In the Item Name, type descriptive text that you want students to click on to access the Playposit video.
  • Optionally, you can type a description as well, such as what you want the students to focus on, or how the video relates to the week's lesson
  • Click Update Item.

OPTION 2: Embed (Display) your PlayPosit video in the Sakai Lessons area

First, get the embed code for the lesson:

• Log in to PlayPosit.
• On the Dashboard area (Dash), move your cursor over one of your bulbs and click on the Share link
• The Embed Code of your presentation is displayed. Highlight the full address and copy it

You can embed the code in any tool that has a Text Editor.

In Sakai Lessons:

• On a Lessons page in Sakai, click Add Text
• In the Text Editor, click on the Source tool button (it's on the third row of tool bars, far right).
• Scroll below all of the HTML code displayed; paste the PlayPosit embed code you copied.
• Click Save.

How do I check my student's participation and answers?

• You can check the times students spent watching your video
• Can students access a video after the due date? Yes, but it will appear as overdue in their class page.
• Zaption provides a video and step-by-step instructions for how you can view your student participation and answers to your questions

How do students view or print their responses?

• Students can follow these steps after they complete their Zaption lesson.

Where can I find more info on how to use Zaption?

• Visit Zaptions's Help Center page
• Browse the list of Frequently Asked Questions
• You can call PlayPosit Customer Service
• Review Zaption's Knowledge Base
• Check out Zaption design tips:
  • Five Tips for Creating Effective Zaption Lessons article
  • Designing Great Video Lessons article
• What is the difference between free Basic Zaption and Zaption Pro?
  • Quick overview of feature differences
• What is Zaption Presenter? You can use Zaption in the classroom or online
  • What are the technical requirements for Zaption Presenter?

Zaption *Video Lessons* for Instructors (Zaption How-To's)

• Zaption Introduction: An Overview of Essential Features
• Zaption Analytics: Tips and Tricks
• Zaption Tips for Math Teachers
• Zaption Presenter: An Introduction

Zaption *Video Lessons* for Instructors (Professional Development)

• Three Tech Tools to Better Engage Learners During an *In-Class* Lesson
• Screencasting: Where Do I Start?
• A Welcome to the Flipped Classroom
• What is Twitter Chat and How Do I Participate?
• 3 Rules to Spark Learning: A TED Talk by Ramsey Musallam

Advanced Tips

• How do I assign students to build a lesson/bulb?

• How do I add Math Formatting to Zaption?
• How do I upload videos from my computer to Zaption?
• How do I make a copy of one of my lessons? Only PRO users can copy their own lessons.
  • But you can copy and paste elements (questions, images, text you've added to a lesson) to different locations in the same lesson, or to a new lesson
  • You can find and copy public video lessons: How to Use Zaption's Gallery Lessons
• How do I trim and duplicate video clips?
• How does copyright work for public videos used in Zaption?
• Is PlayPosit accessible?