Preferences
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Annoto is very flexible and can be fit to the needs of any use-case.
The Features and User Experience can be set for the required context (Site, Course or per specific video) via the Preferences Tab:
Setting preferences can be done on the following organizational levels:
Site preferences - any preferences that are set by the organization in the Admin dashboard are the default preferences for all courses and videos.
Features tab includes all Annoto features that can be Enabled \ Disabled.
Some of the features include options:
Clicking on the Options button opens additional preferences that are related to the feature.
Once clicked, Course\ Video preferences can be set, either manually or by choosing a designated Preset:
Presets are ready-made sets of preferences, based on the most common use-cases of Annoto.
Selecting a preset is done from "Choose Preset" dropdown menu:
Live Video Stream - Best for Live streaming
Disabled - All Annoto features are disabled
Once a preset is selected, click "Apply" to save the chosen preset preferences.
After selecting a preset, you can still change your preferences manually.
"Disabled" preset means you will not see the Annoto Widget, nor any info regarding course activity (no insights on content, users, engagement, etc.)
Options
Voting type - Select the type of voting that will be enabled in the course (Likes, emotions, etc.):
Like - Enable to click on the red heart to "like" a comment:
Sentiment - Enable to vote with sentiments
Disabled - will not allow any voting
Closed Discussion - Once enabled, users will not be able to add new comments to the discussion
Mandatory participation - When enabled, users will see other users' comments only after they submit a comment
Options
The Reflection Point feature is designed to foster active learning by encouraging students to pause and critically engage with video content. By prompting students with thought-provoking questions at key moments, this feature transforms passive watching into an interactive and reflective learning experience.
By requiring students to pause and reflect, Reflection Points help reinforce key concepts and promote active cognitive processing. This aligns with constructivist learning theories, which emphasize that students learn more effectively when they engage with material in a meaningful way.
Well-designed reflection prompts encourage students to analyze, evaluate, and apply information rather than just passively consuming it. This supports higher-order thinking skills as outlined in Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Research shows that active recall and reflection improve long-term retention. By integrating periodic reflection moments, students consolidate their learning and create stronger mental connections.
When used with Subjective Critical Thinking (Within the Reflection Point options button) or Managed Comments, Reflection Points encourage structured peer-to-peer engagement, fostering a collaborative learning environment where students can share perspectives and learn from one another.
By making students pause to reflect before proceeding, this feature helps develop metacognitive skills—the ability to monitor and regulate one's own learning. This aligns with research on self-regulated learning (SRL), which emphasizes the importance of reflection in developing independent, lifelong learners.
Ability to mark a comment as a Reflection Point.
Option to limit fast-forwarding, ensuring students engage with the reflection activity.
A popup dialog appears at the designated reflection point.
Replying to the reflection point is mandatory to continue watching.
If a student has previously replied, the reflection point does not reappear.
Clearly differentiated UI indicator for reflection points vs. regular comments.
To promote independent and deeper thinking, we've added an option to the Reflection Point feature: Subjective Critical Thinking.
When this option is enabled:
Regular users won’t be able to see others’ replies until they submit their own.
Users won’t be able to edit or delete their replies after posting.
Regular comments (not part of Reflection Points) will not be affected.
This feature gives moderators full control over the discussion process and helps ensure that each response is a result of the learner’s original thought—not influenced by others.
Anonymous Comments – Allow students to reply anonymously.
Managed Comments – Faculty can review and publish replies only after all students have responded.
Video Comments – Enable richer responses beyond text.
Closed Discussions – Restrict discussions to replies on reflection points only.
This feature enhances structured engagement, guiding students through meaningful reflection moments while ensuring a seamless learning experience.
Options
Max Duration – Set the maximum length of the recorded video comment (set in seconds). Duration can be set up to 360 seconds.
Add various quiz questions in the Interactions Space, to get your learners engaged
Prevent fast forwarding the video to make sure all the video content is watched without skipping.
Allow users to react on the video to increase engagement and get feedback
Options
Apply to moderators- When enabled, moderators will not see who posted an anonymous comment, same as regular users
User Experience
Enables presets for managing the discussion in various modes:
Simple - Publish and Delete user's comment. Comment will become public in the discussion only after Published by the moderator.
Managed Q&A - Enables rich options for managing the discussion, with the option to publish answers to everyone or reply privately to a user.
Options
Publish action - when enabled, every comment will require approval. Once approved, it will be visible to all users.
Delete action - when enabled, once a comment is deleted, it will be deleted to all users, including the comment's author.
Dismiss action - when enabled, a comment can be dismissed, meaning: it will not be visible to anyone, including the moderators. The author will keep seeing the comment as pending approval.
Reply action - when enabled, replying to a comment will also approve it, meaning: it will be visible to all users.
Reply privately action - when enabled, a comment will have the option to be replied in a private chat. The comment will be marked as private for author and the moderators, and will not be visible to other users.
The analytics are visible for moderators only (not for learners)
Disabling analytics means you will not see any info regarding course activity (no insights on content, users, engagement, etc.)
Enable adding badges in the discussion (such as: Educator's Thumbs Up)
User Experience tab enables you to set the UX preferences that suit your use-case.
It includes 3 sections:
Widget
Player
Comments
Position - Enables you to set the positioning of the widget when it loads in closed mode:
Load state - Set the widget behavior once it loads: Open, closed or Peekaboo mode (Peekaboo means a minimized widget that hides after a few seconds if the user does not take action.)
Tabs - When enabled, the colorful tabs (that are enabled) will be shown in the widget. If disabled - switching between tabs will be done via the Annoto menu.
Video autoplay triggers - when enabled, video will automatically play after a comment or a note is submitted (depending on the setting)
In some use-cases, only moderators would want to see the Annoto widget - to set the interactions, or to choose the exact time to hide the widget for the users.
Under Access Control, moderators can control who will see the Annoto widget (and when). This is set in the Annoto dashboard Preferences, within the User Experience tab, under Access Control:
Moderators can choose whether only moderators will view the widget:
Or if users will also see the widget:
By default, users can see the Annoto widget.
Having the ability of enabling/disabling preferences, allows to choose the set of features that best suit each course and/or video.
Here are a few examples of preferences settings, both from the dashboard side and how it looks in the widget:
Enabling Comments, People and Personal Notes tabs allows the users to enjoy all the different types of interactions: Having a group discussion, learning from one another, having 1*1 chats with fellow learners and the instructor and reflecting on the content in a private notebook.
Preferences in the dashboard:
How it looks in the widget:
In case viewers public discussion does not suit the needs of the video, only Personal Notes and People spaces can be enabled. This will allow the users to watch the video, have 1*1 chats and reflect on the content in their own Personal Notes.
Preferences in the dashboard:
How it looks in the widget:
Enabling only Personal Notes can be in case no viewers interaction is required. The Personal Notes will provide each learner the option to engage with the video and better learn from it.
Preferences in the dashboard:
How it looks in the widget:
Only Analytics enabled:
In case only analytics are enabled (a video with quizzes, for example, where learners interaction does not suit the needs of the video), the Annoto widget will not be shown, however the dashboard will present the analytics of the activity: users, views, completion analytics, etc.
- by default, the course preferences will be same as Site preferences. Modifying the course Features will create a copy of all the site preferences and override all the site preferences (so any future change to site preferences will not affect your course custom preferences). Same override is available for the User Experience.
Once preferences are changed the indicator will change to a button:
- by default Video will have same preferences as the Course preferences it belongs to. Similar to Course preferences, video Features can be modified to fit the specific use case.
Features are enabled / disabled using the toggle at the bottom left corner of each feature card.
Collaborative Learning - Creating a discussion between video viewers. Great for: , , &
Personal Notebook - Enables only and on the videos. Great for
Analytics - Enables to see on the videos, without enabling the widget
Skills Assessment - Providing time-based feedback on a video. Great for use-case.
Peer Review - Providing time-based feedback on a video. Great for use-case.
When enabled, videos include the – the tab that enables a discussion between all video viewers.
Sentiment – Enable using while commenting.
The comments space significantly increases viewers’ engagement and is used for many different use cases, such as: Guided Watching, Collaborative Learning, Skills Assessment, Peer Review, Flipped Classroom, and
When enabled, videos include the – the tab that enables users to manage their own private notebook.
Export - Enable to a spreadsheet or a document.
Sentiment – Enable using while writing a note.
Closed Notebook – Once enabled, users will not be able to add new notes
Enable participants to add . Recording can be self-recording (Camera) or screen recording.
When enabled, videos include the - the tab that enables users to see all course participants and their presence, search and also mention (@) uses
Enable participants to have 1*1
Enable on new comments and replies in the discussion. When enabled, users can manage their notification preferences in the Annoto Widget
Enable users to write anonymously. When , only moderators will see user's details
Enable the that provides you with extensive analytics of the activity - course\ videos\ participants
Enable from the dashboard to csv files. Exporting the analytics is for moderators only
Provides enhanced analytics on the videos, such as
Moderator Like – when enabled, moderator's vote will be presented as (instead of a regular vote)
Enable participants to manage their info and to stay updated with all the latest activity in the videos they are following.
The UX preferences will affect the level you are setting them: Course level or .
Default Sorting - Choose the default way in which the comments will be in the widget
In case of enabling some of the Annoto spaces (/ /) - the widget will include only the tabs that were enabled.
