Overview
The Video Assignments tool in Brightspace offers a valuable multi-media assessment option for your you and your students (you can even use video in the setting up of the assignment, either as instructions or as part of the assignment itself).
Powered by Bongo, the software behind the Virtual Classroom tool in Brightspace, video assignments give students the ability to either record or upload video of themselves, share their screens, upload presentations and attach files.
Assignment types
With our current license we only have access to one of the four assignment types within the Video assignment tool:
- Individual assignments - where learners can record or upload video of themselves presenting on a topic or demonstrating a skill
The other three types (requiring a Premium subscription) are greyed out and unfortunately cannot be used:
- Group assignments - where students can work together, in order to create a shared output
- Question and answer assignments - where you can create prompts (text or video) for students to respond by video
- Interactive video assignments - where you can provide video as well as text to prompt student responses
Advanced features
In addition to the features above, video assignments can also provide students with a way of automatically analysing their recordings (and receiving detailed reports). Auto-analysis™, a tool within Bongo, will transcribe drafts of student presentations and provide them with a report based on their delivery. Using this feedback they can improve aspects of their assignment before submitting.
Video assignments can also be set up to include options for peer review, rubrics for self-assessment and time limits.
Given all these features the scope of possible uses cases and their direct connection to graduate attributes is clear: for example, presentation skills, reflection and close analysis of an audio-visual source.
Bongo Knowledge Base
Throughout this resource we will link out to official Bongo guidance on video assignments. To get you started, here's a overview of the video assignment options in Brightspace. Please keep in mind that staff at UHI only have access to Individual assessments.
Navigating to Video Assignments in Brightspace
Once logged into a unit or module, from the Communication and Collaboration dropdown menu in the navbar select Video Assignments (see picture opposite).
If you click on the image opposite it will appear larger in the middle of the screen - this is true of every image in this guide.
Video Assignments is near the bottom of the dropdown menu, beneath Virtual Classroom (Bongo) which features a similar interface. The picture opposite has been shortened, as indicated by the double arrow.
Communication and Collaboration dropdown menu
You should now be on the Video Assignments home page.
Like Bongo’s Virtual Classroom tool, to create a video assignment you use the Add (+) button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Clicking on the Add button (+) reveals four icons representing the four video assignment types (picture opposite):
- Individual assignments;
- Group assignments (greyed out);
- Question and answer assignments (greyed out); and
- Interactive video assignments (greyed out).
Hovering over any one of the icons will reveal the assignment type, for example, Individual assignment.
Creating an individual video assignment
As shown on the previous page ('Where to find Video Assignments'), to get started log into your unit or module, then from the Communication and Collaboration dropdown menu select Video Assignments.
To begin the process of creating an individual video assignment, click on the Create individual assignment icon from the Add list at the bottom right of the screen.
You are now faced with a form from which you can:
- Give your assignment a name (required)
- Give your assignment a due date and time (optional)
- Select Grade Type (percentage; pass/fail, etc)
- Provide instructions (text required; video message optional)
- Activate Auto Analysis (optional)
- Activate scoring for Auto Analysis (optional)
- Turn on Peer review* (either system or student based – all optional) *Note: This is a versatile function. You can, for example, require each submission to be reviewed a certain number of times. To learn more about this feature and how to customise it, view Bongo's peer review advanced settings guide.
- Turn on Rubric* self-assessment (available if grade type is selected as Rubric) *Note: Video Assignments has its own rubric tool. You can either choose an existing rubric, build or import one.
Click on the image opposite to see an example in detail.
To add video instructions to the assignment (if you are expecting your students to create video, it might encourage them if you use video in your introduction), click on the + in the middle of the black video box.
From there you will be given the same options your students will when submitting, to:
- Record video (either a headshot and/or while sharing your screen);
- Upload from a previously created video; or
- Select from resources (this means previously recorded Bongo sessions).
If this is taking a long time, you do not need to remain on this screen. You can if you wish click Save at the bottom of the screen and check back at a later point.
When complete, click Save.
Although you will be able to see the video assignment that you have created, your students will not be able to see it until you add it to Content.
To add your assignment to Content, click on Content in the navbar and navigate to an appropriate place to display the assignment to students (e.g. in a folder called 'Video assignments', shown opposite).
Next, click on Existing Activities and scroll to near the bottom of the list, to Video Assignments. Click on Video Assignments.
You will now see a list of the assignments you have created. Click on the one you want and it will be added to Content.
You will be returned to Content where you will see a link to the assignment you have created for your students.
When they come to it, your students just need to click on the title of the assignment and follow the instructions.
The Bongo Knowledge Base has a wide variety of well-illustrated guides. Relating to the steps above, please see:
Both these guides go into depth about all the advanced features, e.g. Auto Analysis, which were just touched on above.
Grading and giving feedback
To offer students feedback and grades for their video assignment submissions, follow these steps:
To begin the process of offering a student a grade and feedback for a video assignment, click on the Video Assignments option in the Communication and Collaboration dropdown menu.
You will now be looking at the video assignment/s you have created for your students. In this case we just have one individual assignment.
To give grades and feedback for a particular assignment, first click on the Actions menu to the right of the assignment (3 vertical dots), then click on Overview (shown opposite).
You will now see a representation of how many submissions have been made and how many have been graded.
If someone has submitted work you will see the phrase 'Needs Evaluation' opposite their name.
To grade the student's work, click on the student's name.
This will take you to a screen divided into four areas. In the Submission area you will be able to watch the video the student created.
In the top left (Score), use the dropdown arrow at the right to select a grade (for example pass/fail), then click Save (either as draft or publish).
Use the area at the bottom right of the screen to leave comments for the student. It operates like an instant messaging tool - type in the box and then click on the arrow to publish.
There is no overall Save button for each page in the Overview. When you click Save in the Score box, that choice is saved; when you write a comment and click the arrow, it's saved and will be visible to the student.
When you have completed grading one student you can either move on to another student (using the list on the left of the screen) or use the breadcrumb trail at the top of the screen to return to your list of assignments.
To check on submissions and grading at any point, return to the Overview screen.
How students access grades and feedback
When you have graded and offered feedback you would like students to see, you can tell them to follow these steps:
To direct students to items that you have graded, tell them to click on Communication and Collaboration then Video Assignments.
To access your grade and feedback, students should click on the title of the assignment (shown below).
Your student will now be able to see their score and your feedback.
They can either read it and move on, or add some additional comments of their own. To do that, they should type in the area at the bottom of the Comments area then hit the arrow to post their message (shown opposite). No further saving is required.
They can now either navigate to another area of Content or log out.
Bongo Knowledge Base
You will have seen links to Bongo Knowledge Base guidance throughout this resource. This page aims to bring them all into one place.
General staff guidance
Individual video assignments
Student guidance
Get started page, with guides including:
- How to check your system before completing a video assignment
- How to complete an individual assignment