When Video as a comment is enabled, Annoto users can reply not only with text, but also in any of the following recording options:
Self-recording (Camera)
Screen recording
And just like everything that happens in Annoto, this ability is also performed within your LMS (without having to go to a different platform) and without the need to download anything.
In order to record a video as your comment:
Click “Add a comment” in the Annoto widget
2. Click the video camera icon:
3. Choose what you want to record: Camera or Screen
4. Select the settings (Microphone\ camera)
If you chose Camera – you will see at the left bottom a screen of what will be recorded
5. Click “START RECORDING”.
6. You can pause the recording anytime by clicking the Pause button and you can continue recording by clicking on the red button:
7. Whenever you want to end the recording, click on the Stop button:
8. Now you can choose what you want to do with the recording:
a. Post – will add the video as a comment
b. Click the X button – will not save the video.
In case you clicked the X button, and you want to record again – click on the video camera icon in the comment and start recording.
The video will be added to the discussion, as you can see here:
You may also see how to do so in this video.
Here are a few examples of how video as a comment can be used to expand and enrich the conversation:
The ability to record a video instead of writing an insight, comment or feedback can be a great time-saver for some people.
Instead of typing your thoughts, you can just say what you have in mind. This can save you some precious time.
If one picture is worth 1000 words, imagine the worth of a video recording!
A video feedback combines not only the content of the feedback, but a lot of additional added value: the tone of what is said, body language, hand gestures - all of these create a much more comprehensive way of expression.
Recording the screen opens a world of possibilities in the ability to show how to do something, instead of explaining it.
This can be used to demonstrate how a program works, to show how to find something in your device, to demo how to change settings, to focus the viewers on a specific location in your screen, etc.
Video as a comment can be used to strengthen the introduction between all video viewers - Learners & Instructors. Anyone can add a self-recorded video, answering a specific question (such as: "why did you choose to take this class?"), or telling about themselves.
Can be used, for example, at the beginning of the semester, where the instructor and the learners introduce themselves in a video – can be a great ice-breaker! 😊
When teaching languages, pronouncing has a huge meaning. Video as a comment can be easily used to demonstrate how to pronounce a specific word, phrase or even a letter.
The instructor can record the correct way to pronounce and\or ask the learners to record themselves doing so.
When a video is created, feedback can be given in several ways.
Adding time-base written comments is one of these ways. By recording your screen as a comment, you can also show exactly what you are referring (in terms of a specific part of the video, as well as a specific location on the screen).
Sometimes the easiest way to help a learner understand is to give them a real, visual example of what you’re talking about.
You can also learn more about video as a comment in the Annoto Use Cases here.
In order to record video as a comment, no need to download anything or to go to a different platform. All is within your environment!
If you want to make sure everything is set up for recording, feel free to check out this list:
Internet connection – Internet connection must be stable.
Make sure you have a 0.5 Mbps (500K) internet speed.
You can check your internet speed here.
If possible, a wired connection is preferred.
Equipment (Camera\ Microphone)
Make sure you are not currently using your camera in a different app (a camera can be used only in one application at a time).
Make sure your browser permissions allow using the Microphone and Camera.
If you need to enable your microphone and camera and no prompt has shown, you can see how to set it here.
If a prompt shows up, make sure to allow using the camera and microphone:
Browser
Make sure your browser is always up to date. If you are not sure, feel free to check it here.
The Annoto Comments Space enable a discussion between all the viewers of a video - learners and instructors. Every comment that is added gets a time-tag, meaning: you can always see to what specific moment in the video each comment refers and understand its context.
If you want to add a comment, simply start typing in "Add a comment..." section. The video will be automatically paused (so you won't miss anything while writing).
Once your comment is ready, simply hit Enter, or click the submit button (green arrow, as you can see in the image below):
and your comment will be added to the discussion:
The Educator indicator
In addition to the name of who wrote the comment, every comment (or a reply) provided by the instructors is marked with the Educator indicator (the graduation hat beneath the user image).
Learners' comments do not have the Educator's indicator icon.
Learners can even have the ability to post questions or comments as anonymous. In this case, only instructors will see the user's name. Click here to see how Anonymous comments look in instructor's view, as you can also see in the following images:
When Anonymous comments are enabled, each learner can choose whether to post the comment as anonymous or not. This is how it looks in the learners' widget:
Each comment (in the Comment Space) and each note (in the Personal Notes Space) gets a timetag that reflects in what specific moment in the video it was added. Therefore every question, comment or a note is always in the context of the video.
Clicking on the timetag will take you to the exact moment in the video that it was written about.
The Annoto Timeline provides a quick overview of the discussion and indicates specific moments in the video that includes many comments or questions.
To learn all you need to know about the Timeline - Click here.
If you wish, you can add a sentiment to your comment, to indicate its type:
You may choose your sentiment by clicking on the icon near the comment that you are typing, as you can see here:
If you want to move to the next line in your comment, click Shift + Enter.
You can format your messages:
Ordered list (Type 1. (or any other number followed by a dot) at the beginning of a new line and it will magically transform to ordered list)
Bullet list (Type * , - or + at the beginning of a new line)
Shift + Enter to a new line
Emojis (Add smiley faces, hearts, winks etc. by typing their shortcuts and a space after them: :-), <3 , ;) or :p )
Bold - Type double asterisks for **Bold text**
Italic - Type underscores for _Italic Text_
Highlight - Type equal signs ==like this== to highlight
Blockquote - Type > at the beginning of a new line
Whenever People Space is enabled on the widget, you can mention a user in the comments space by using '@' .
To mention someone, type '@' in the editor then start typing their name. Then, choose the person you want to mention from the list of suggestions.
Enhance the discussion:
Drive a specific user's attention to a certain moment in the video
Empower a learner by mentioning them in the discussion
Learners can mention one another in the context of the video content
You are free to edit or delete any comment you write.
Editing or deleting a comment is done by clicking on the 3 dots menu, that is revealed when hovering the comment's date:
If you want to reply to a comment - all you have to do is click on Reply below the comment, write and hit send, as you can see here:
Whenever a comment has replies, the number of replies is mentioned below the comment. Clicking on that will open the reply so you can read it, as you can see here:
A comment can be “liked” simply by clicking on the red heart near the “reply” button.
The number of "likes" a comment received is shown as well.
Whenever an instructor “likes” a learner's comment or a reply, that comment\reply is marked with “Educator’s thumbs up” (yellow medal on the comment).
As you can see in the following images:
An instructor has the ability to delete learners’ comments from the discussion (in case of inappropriate comments, for example).
Deleting a learner's comment is done by clicking on the 3 dots menu, that is revealed when hovering a comment's date:
You will see that the comment was deleted:
Learners will not see this comment at all (as if it was never written).
Instructors can also delete learners' comments directly from the Annoto Dashboard. Click here to see how.
An instructor has the ability to manually approve any comments before it becomes public.
Setting the option for "Managed Comments" is done in the Annoto Dashboard.
Approving comments is done via the Annoto widget.
When moderating comments is enabled, once a comment is submitted, it will await instructor's approval.
This is how the instructor will see the comment (with "Pending approval" message below the comment):
The instructor can publish the comment, dismiss it, or choose any of the additional options (Reply and Publish, Private Reply or Delete) - based on the Managed Comments features enabled in the Preferences.
The learner who posted the comment will see it with "Pending approval" message, until approved by the instructor:
Other learners will not see the comment until it is approved.
Once approved, the comment will be shown in the discussion,
If deleted, the comment will appear as "Deleted by moderator", both for the instructor and for the author (the learner who wrote it). Other learners will not see the comment at all (not even "Deleted by moderator" comment).
If dismissed, the comment will disappear from the Instructor's discussion but will still appear as "Pending Approval" for the author (the learner who wrote it). Other learners will not see the comment at all.
If we take a closer look on an added comment, here is the info we have on each comment:
In order to add an external video (a YouTube video, for example) in your comment:
Go to the video
Copy the video's link (URL)
Go to "Add a comment" in Annoto:
You may either write a comment in addition to the video, or not - as you wish.
4. Paste the video's link (URL)
5. Hit "send".
The video will be embedded in the discussion, as you can see here:
You may comment with your own video: a camera recording (of you) or a screen recording.
Click here to learn all about recording video as a comment.
To learn about all the ways you can use the Annoto Comment Space (to engage the viewers, encourage a discussion, use it for assignments, etc. - visit the Annoto Use Cases.
You can stay on top of things by following the discussion.
Following a discussion means you will receive a notification email whenever someone replies to your comments in a discussion or whenever a new comment is added to the conversation.
Following\ Unfollowing the discussion is done via the Annoto menu.
By default, you will not be notified on new comments.
Following a discussion is by either of the following:
Adding a comment in the Comments space (once you add a comment in the shared comments area in a specific video, you will be notified on replies and new comments created in this video).
Following a video via the Annoto menu
You can follow the video discussion without adding a new comment by clicking the Bell icon in the Annoto menu:
Instructors can choose what they want to follow:
Follow this discussion - means receiving notifications for new comments & replies that are added in this specific video
Follow this group - means receiving notifications for new comments & replies that are added in any of the videos in the course\ channel.
In order to be a follower - the bell should be green. When the following-bells in the menu are clear - no notifications will be received, as can be seen here:
You can enable/disable which email notification you will get from Annoto in "my Space". Accessing it is from the Annoto menu:
Choose which email notifications you would like to receive:
Followed Groups - once enabled, you will be notified on new comments and replies in the videos within the group (course/ channel, etc.)
Followed Discussions - once enabled, you will be notified on new comments and replies in this discussion (video)
Replies - once enabled, you will be notified when a comment you wrote received a reply
Mentions - once enabled, you will be notified on comments that you are mentioned in
Toggle right (green) = Enabled
Toggle left (grey) = Disabled
Please note that if you disable notifications in the preferences, you will no longer receive any emails for any of the videos in the course.
Want to control which notification you receive? You can manage the Annoto discussions in all the videos from the Annoto menu. Click here to learn how.
You can also follow\unfollow the discussion from the Annoto Dashboard. Click here to learn how to do so.
