How to Get Links for vids in Canvas: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking to embed videos in your Canvas course? Finding the right links for your videos can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps, you can easily achieve this. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of obtaining video links for your Canvas course, ensuring that your students can access the content seamlessly.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to understand the basics of video links in Canvas. A video link is essentially the URL that points to the video file you want to embed. This can be a link from a video hosting platform like YouTube, Vimeo, or even a direct link to a video file on your server.

Using YouTube Videos

One of the most common sources for video content in Canvas is YouTube. Here’s how you can get a link for a YouTube video:

1. Go to YouTube and find the video you want to embed.
2. Click on the “Share” button below the video.
3. Select “Embed” from the dropdown menu.
4. Copy the URL from the “Embed” code.

Remember to remove any additional parameters from the URL, such as “start” or “end” parameters, as these may not work in Canvas.

Using Vimeo Videos

Similar to YouTube, Vimeo also allows you to embed videos in Canvas. Here’s how to get a link for a Vimeo video:

1. Go to Vimeo and find the video you want to embed.
2. Click on the “Share” button below the video.
3. Select “Embed” from the dropdown menu.
4. Copy the URL from the “Embed” code.

Again, make sure to remove any additional parameters from the URL.

Using Direct Video Links

If you have a video file stored on your server or another hosting service, you can still embed it in Canvas. Here’s how to get a link for a direct video:

1. Upload your video file to your server or hosting service.
2. Copy the direct link to the video file.

When pasting the link into Canvas, make sure to use the correct embed code format for your video player.

Embedding Videos in Canvas

Now that you have the video link, it’s time to embed it in your Canvas course. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to your Canvas course.
2. Go to the page where you want to embed the video.
3. Click on the “Add” button and select “Embed Media” from the dropdown menu.
4. Paste the video link into the provided field.
5. Click “Embed” to insert the video into your page.

Canvas will automatically generate the embed code for you, so you don’t have to worry about formatting it manually.

Testing Your Video Embed

After embedding the video, it’s important to test it to ensure that it plays correctly. Here’s how to test your video embed:

1. Preview the page where the video is embedded.
2. Play the video to make sure it loads and plays correctly.
3. Check the video’s settings to ensure that it’s set to play automatically or on click, depending on your preference.

Make any necessary adjustments to the video settings or embed code if you encounter any issues.

Conclusion

Obtaining and embedding video links in Canvas is a straightforward process, as long as you follow the right steps. By using the methods outlined in this guide, you can easily add engaging video content to your course, enhancing the learning experience for your students.