Kaltura Virtual Classroom

Kaltura Virtual Classroom (also called Kaltura Meetings) is NIC’s web conferencing app used to deliver online classes. It’s part of our Kaltura video streaming and storage platform and is designed specifically with teaching and learning in mind. All NIC students have free access to create their own meetings—for group projects, collaboration with classmates, or connecting with others around the world. Watch the 14-minute video below for a tour of the online classroom.

Before Joining a Meeting

How to Join a Meeting

Create Your Own Room

Create Your Own Channel

Preparation
  • Persistent virtual class (it never goes away, or you have to set up again – it is always ready for teaching and learning)
  • Up to 50 participants per a class but only 25 show on the stage (first page) – instructor is able to click on “LIVE” button in participant list to enable a student to the webcam tray/stage if # 26 onwards
  • Instructors can prepare ahead of time (content, pre upload, link in videos) in playlist, set up videos in advance etc.
  • Play videos with excellent high quality video, audio and streaming quality (because this is Kaltura – video is their speciality)
Joining
  • Students join from within Brightspace (no links required) or instructors can create a room for meetings outside of Brightspace (e.g., Office Hours) shared with students via a URL
  • Students and instructors join without any apps to download (users the browser unless using Safari) – there are mobile apps for joining
  • Raise hand feature in Participant List (raise hand button in top black bar)
  • Instructor can assign moderator role to anyone in the class if required
  • Can blur the background (no virtual background)
Recording
  • Instructor can record and have recording automatically go into class Kaltura My Media Gallery for access
  • Instructor can set permissions to allow students to record breakout groups
Tools
  • Instructors can use whiteboards, quizzes, polling and Q+A chat stream
  • Polling can be anonymous or not
  • Quizzing (set up ahead of time) can be multiple choice, multiple answer, or open question – results displayed to class
  • Chat can have up to four streams (Questions and Answers, Group Chat, Private Chat and Instructors/Moderators’ Chat)
Breakout Rooms
  • Instructor can create breakout rooms (up to 30), add students (drag and drop) and upload documents for you to use while in breakout
  • Instructor can set a time limit on the breakout rooms
  • In breakout rooms students can chat, upload shared files, add YouTube videos, share screen, record the session, write notes, collaborate on whiteboard and even switch rooms  – if instructor has set permissions
  • Students can also summon the moderator if they need help while in a breakout room
  • Instructor can broadcast a message to all students while in breakout rooms

Not included: Virtual backgrounds and live machine captioning (but there will be closed captions on all recorded classes 30 + mins after recording is done or there is the ability to appoint someone to be a live captioner).

BEFORE YOU JOIN A KALTURA VIRTUAL CLASSROOM MEETING

Top of Page

HOW TO: Join Via Brightspace COURSE

Each Brightspace course has its own ‘virtual classroom’ space! It never goes away. It is always there! As long as your Brightspace course is active and your teacher is using this space – you can easily join your virtual class times from within your Brightspace course. Instructors must first “open” the virtual classroom space by starting the meeting – but students can still join but will be put in a ‘waiting room’ until the instructor has opened the course. The video below shows this process of joining and joining while waiting.

  • Brightspace course > blue navigational bar > Tools > Kaltura Media Gallery > Join Meeting
  • If instructor has not started the meeting – you’ll be asked to wait but will be added in as soon as the meeting opens
  • Don’t forget: box showing your microphone, camera and speakers – ensure they are all correct and click the black CONFIRM button at bottom of box to enter the room in active mode

HOW TO: Join via URL

  • You may be sent a URL to a class and you’d click on that URL to access the online space,
  • You’ll be presented with a box showing your microphone, camera and speakers – ensure they are all correct and click the black CONFIRM button at bottom of box to enter the room in active mode

Top of Page

HOW TO: Join via MOBILE APP

  • You may be sent a URL to a class and you’d click on that URL to access the online space,
  • You’ll be presented with a box showing your microphone, camera and speakers – ensure they are all correct and click the black CONFIRM button at bottom of box to enter the room in active mode
  • For Android and iOS, Kaltura makes a mobile app called Kaltura Video Conferencing that is Kaltura Virtual Classroom.
  • Instructions on how to use: Webpage
  • ANDROID – Google Play Store App: Link
  • iOS – Apple Store: Link

Top of Page

CreatE YOUR OWN VIRTUAL Meeting Room(S)

  • Student Video: NIC Students – Creating Kaltura Virtual Meeting Room – Link
  • Student Handout: NIC Students – Creating a Kaltura Virtual Meeting Room –  PDF

Top of Page

CREATING A NIC MEDIASPACE CHANNEL FOR KALTURA MEETINGS TO BE STARTED BY MORE THAN 1 PERSON

If you have a group that regularly meets and you (the owner) can’t always start the meeting and want others to start the meeting – then create a channel in NIC MediaSpace.

Top of Page