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Add Videos and Video Timestamps

Add video content to your formatives, even add questions at specific timestamps!

Neta Raz Studnitski avatar
Written by Neta Raz Studnitski
Updated this week

Access to Video Content

All users can add video as a stand-alone content item and attach questions. Our Silver/Gold users can also attach questions at particular times in the video, or add a video directly into any question!

Add video as a content item:

  1. Click on the "+" icon

  2. Choose "Video" from the Content types

  3. Choose from the following options:
    * Copy and paste a video link from YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive
    * Upload a video from your device (10:00 minutes limit)
    * Record a video
    * Screencast right from within Formative (10:00 minutes limit).

  4. Click "Add Video":

The content types list is located on the left side of the window

You can also add videos between other items on your formative. Simply click on the + icon in between questions or content you've already created and select from the menu that appears.

*Note: Record Video feature is not compatible with Safari on macOS

Add video within a question or another content type (*Silver/Gold feature):

If you are a member of a Silver or a Gold plan, you can add a video to any question or content block. you just have to click the blue "+" icon (found in any rich text field). Then, click "Video."

  1. Click on the blue "+" icon within the question or content block

  2. Choose "video"

  3. Choose your upload method

  4. Click "Add Video":

You will have the option to record directly using your camera, upload from your device, or record and upload a screencast. Check out the animation below to see how it works. Supported file types for video uploads are mp4, mov, webm, 3gpp, 3gpp2, flv, wmv, and mpeg.

You can even leave students feedback with this feature! Just click the blue plus sign in the feedback chat box!


Closed-Captions

If you need to make the video accessible to the hearing impaired or to present it to an audience speaking a different language, we have great news! Closed-Captions are available when adding video links from YouTube or Vimeo!

Formative will carry over the CC languages supported for the video on the original platform.

To choose Closed-Captions for a Vimeo video:

  1. Copy and Paste the Vimeo link and click "Add Video"

  2. The CC box will appear below the video automatically

  3. Click the CC box to reveal a dropdown of languages available

  4. Click on your language of choice, or "No CC"

To choose Closed-Captions for a YouTube video:

  1. Copy and Paste the YouTube link and click "Add Video"

  2. Click "Play" and then the CC box will appear below the video

  3. Click the CC box to reveal a dropdown of languages available

  4. Click on your language of choice, or "No CC"

Time-stamped questions in video content (Silver/Gold users only)

NOTE: time-stamped questions can only be added to stand-alone video items. They can not be added to videos that were added within a question or another content type.

Silver/Gold users can create questions attached to specific times in a video. Students will see the questions pop up when the video reaches the selected time.

By default, students are still able to control the video by playing, pausing, adjusting the time, and skipping forward in the video. If you'd like to disable your students' ability to skip forward in the video, toggle on "Prevent Skipping" under the video, it will then play in order and stop at each timestamped question without the students being able to skip.

Add time-stamped questions to a video:

  1. Move the time scroll bar below the uploaded video to the desired time, then click "Add item at X:XX".

  2. Select question type

  3. Create your question as normal

  4. Repeat for as many questions you would like to attach to the video!

Note: You can add more than one question at a particular timestamp by clicking the "Add item at X:XX" button again, clicking the "+" in the question area, or by duplicating a question.

Once a timestamped question or content item has been added, teachers can drag and drop markers questions and contents along the video timeline!

NEW! Trim Video

Teachers can now choose to restrict students' viewing to only a part of a video by trimming. Click the "Trim Video" button, drag the start/end bar to include the portion of the video you would like your students to view and confirm the selection by clicking on the "Trim Video" button again.

Students will only be able to view the portion selected by you.

FAQ & Troubleshooting

🙋🏼 Why do I get a warning message "This video does not support timestamp questions."?

  1. Video playback is dependent on the type of video and the browser it is being viewed in. As of right now, only certain videos from Google Drive are supported for question timestamps. Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or recorded through our video recording feature are all supported currently.

    If you've added a link from Google Drive there are a few things you can check to make sure the video timestamps feature will work.

    • The Google Drive video file must be an mp4

    • The Google Drive video file must be public

  2. You may have added the video within another question or content type - timestapmed questions can only be added to stand alone video items. Please delete the video, and re-add it from scratch as a stand alone item

🙋🏿‍♂️ Can I add more than one question at the same time?

You can add more than one question at a particular timestamp by clicking the "Add item at X:XX" button again, clicking the "+" in the question area, or by duplicating a question.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Can I use video timestamps during Teacher Paced Mode?

Yes! Students will still see and be able to control the video in the same way during Teacher Paced Mode. Each student will be able to control the video on their own screen.

🙋🏽 What if I want to add questions but don't want to attach them at a particular time?

Not a problem! Simply click "Add item at 0:00" and you can add your questions. Students will still be able to view them ahead of time by clicking the drop down arrow next to each question in the right-side column.

🙋🏻 Can my students record a video too?

Students can also record video submissions when using the Free Response question-type!

  1. Click on the blue plus sign

  2. Select "Video"

  3. Students will be able to access all video options including recording a new/live video to respond to the question/command

  4. Click "Record video" and the red dot to start/end recording

  5. When finished, click "Add video" and the video will upload inside the text box

What's Next?

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