Start by checking your video’s file size:

Mac and Windows instructions to discover a file size(s).

If the file is under 500 MB, your file is ready to upload to Canvas!

If your file is over 500 MB, read on...

Two options: compress the video OR break it into multiple files and maybe compress the pieces.

Option 1:

Videos that you will embed into Canvas need to be smaller than 500 MB. Since your video isn’t already smaller than this, you can choose to do what’s called “compressing,” which basically means making the video smaller while preserving as much visual and audio quality as possible. To do this, follow the “Compressing your video” instructions below.

Option 2:

If your file is three, four, five or more times bigger than 500 MB, you can consider breaking the video file up into segments. You can make these segments smaller than 500 MB each OR you can then compress the segments so they’re smaller than 500 MB each. When you’re done, what your students would see (for example) is “Week 3 lecture, part 1,” “Week 3 lecture, part 2,” etc.

Instructions on how to break up a video file into separate video files ( on Mac ) ( on Windows )

Then...

Instructions on how to compress a video file ( on Mac ) ( on Windows )

Which option should I choose?

Start with the option with less steps-- option 1. Even if your original file is really big, try compressing it. If it is smaller than 500 MB, and it looks ok and sounds ok when viewed, you’re done! If it doesn’t look or sound good after compression, try option 2.

Basically, getting used to doing compression will take a few tries. The more often you do it, the easier it will be to predict when you should/shouldn’t do it, and what the results might look like.

Back to "Sharing videos with your students through Canvas"

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