MediaSpace: Adding Content into Canvas Course Media Gallery

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Course Media Galleries in Canvas Using MediaSpace

Creating and managing course media galleries within Canvas using MediaSpace allows you to integrate and organize video content directly within your course. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up and use course media galleries, along with some best practices:

Access Canvas and MediaSpace Integration

1. Log In to Canvas:
   • Open your web browser and log into my.mines.edu with your Mines credentials.
   • Navigate to the Canvas tile within my.mines.edu or use the url, canvas.mines.edu.
     
2. Navigate to Your Course:
   • From your Canvas dashboard, select the course where you want to create a media gallery.
3. Access MediaSpace:
   • In the course navigation menu on the left, look for Course Media link.
   • Click on Course Media to open the Media Gallery for the course.
     

Add Media to the Course Media Gallery

4. Open Media Gallery:
   • In the Course Media gallery page, click on the + Add Media button to start adding videos to the course gallery.
     
5. Select Media from My Media:
   • A window will pop up displaying the media available in your MediaSpace My Media library.
   • Select the videos you want to add to the course media gallery by checking the boxes next to the desired videos.
   • Click Publish to add the selected videos to the course media gallery.
     

Upload New Media (Optional)

6. Upload New Media:
   • If the media you want to add is not yet uploaded, click on the Add New button in the My Media section.
   • Select the type of media you want to upload (e.g., Media Upload, Express Capture Recording, etc).
     
   • Follow the prompts to upload your new media, fill in the required metadata (Title, Description, Tags), and then publish it to the media gallery.

Organize the Media Gallery

7. Organize Media:
   • Use categories and tags to help organize and filter media within the gallery.

Share and Embed Media in Course Content

8. Embed Media in Modules or Pages:
   • Navigate to a Canvas page element where you want to embed a video.
   • In the rich content editor, click on the MediaSpace icon (Radial Sun icon)
     
   • Select the video you want to embed from Add from Library option and click </> Embed.
     
9. Add Media to Assignments or Discussions:
   • Follow a similar process to add media to assignments or discussion posts, enhancing the learning experience with video content.

Best Practices for Course Media Galleries

1. Curate Relevant Content:
   • Ensure that all media added to the course media gallery is relevant to the course objectives and enhances the learning experience.
2. Organize Content Logically:
   • Use categories, tags, and playlists to organize media in a logical manner. Group related videos together to make it easier for students to find and access the content.
3. Provide Clear Descriptions and Titles:
   • Use clear and descriptive titles and descriptions for each video. This helps students understand the content and purpose of each video at a glance.
4. Ensure Accessibility:
   • Add captions and transcripts to all videos to ensure they are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
5. Regularly Update Content:
   • Periodically review and update the media gallery to ensure that the content remains current and relevant to the course.
6. Encourage Student Interaction:
   • Encourage students to interact with the media by including video-based assignments, discussions, or reflections.
7. Monitor Engagement:
   • Use MediaSpace’s analytics tools to monitor how students are interacting with the media. This can provide insights into which videos are most effective and which might need improvement.
8. Provide Clear Instructions:
   • Offer students clear instructions on how to access and use the Course Media gallery. Include these instructions in the course syllabus or introductory module.
9. Utilize Quizzes and Interactive Elements:
   • Incorporate interactive elements like quizzes within videos to engage students and reinforce learning.
10. Solicit Feedback:
    • Ask students for feedback on the media gallery and use their input to improve the organization and content of the gallery.