• How to add a YouTube Video using the Mashup function
• How to add a Flickr photo or image using the Mashup function

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There is information provided by DMU Library Services for staff and students on copyright and using digital content.

Heard about Creative Commons?

Creative Commons (CC) is a not-for profit organization, set up in 2001, which enables web authors (scientists, artists, lecturers) to adopt different types of CC licenses for their works (videos, photographs, drawings, text, audio recordings). Other web users can then use (copy or sometimes alter) these works more freely. There are several types of licenses based on how the author of the content wishes to license her/his content.

Tell me more about Creative Commons licenses

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Using Mashups in Blackboard

Using YouTube in Blackboard: Copyright Issues

YouTube is an internet website that allows users who sign up to its service to upload their videos to be made available to share to particular users or shareable to the ‘public’ (accessible to anyone on the web). These videos can range from amateur home videos; remixes from various media (audio &video) to clips of commercial films. Thousands of videos are uploaded daily.

If you wish to add a YouTube video into your Blackboard course using the ‘Mashup’ tool you need to be clear on any copyright implications. Foremost, the YouTube mash-up integration in Blackboard basically creates a link which allows for the video to be streamed from YouTube and is not embedded in your course. You need to understand the issues outlined below:

The Issues:

• Whilst YouTube outlines its copyright guidance to users who use their service to upload videos, some videos can contain copyright infringed material.

• If you wish to add a YouTube video, you as the tutor have to take responsibility for checking the legitimacy of the video. The advice is not to link to videos that you know or think are infringing copyright, or that you cannot be certain of their copyright status…”If you link to a video that you know is infringing, or that any reasonable person would have known is infringing, and if your link materially contributes to the infringement, then you could be liable for contributory infringement — a kind of “aiding and abetting” liability.” (Web Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation)

• How can you check the legitimacy of the video? The name of the user who uploaded the video can give you a clue, however this does not always mean that they created the video or own the material presented in their video. You could try searching for the official version. Some companies have a YouTube channel, videos on these channels can be used. Such companies usually have the URL address in the format www.YouTube.com/companyname. If you still can’t find an official version on YouTube, try to locate the video on the copyright owner’s website and check the terms of conditions of use. It’s worth noting that not all video clips will have an official version and as there is no educational exception for the use of YouTube videos,  then the use of certain videos is an infringement of copyright.

• As best practice, please ensure every time you add a YouTube video that the following mashup options, are set:
Options ‘Show YouTube URL’ is set to ‘Yes’ and ‘Show YouTube Information’ is set to ‘Yes’

• If you are the owner/creator of a video in YouTube then you can add this to your Blackboard course.

To add a YouTube video:

1. Navigate to the Content Area in which you want to add a YouTube video
2. Hover over the Build Content button and click the YouTube Video option under the Mashups section

3. In the new window that opens enter a search term in the search window (e.g. De Montfort University) and click the Go button

A list of YouTube videos that match the search criteria will be displayed.

4. Search the list for the video that you want to add to your Content Area. You can preview videos in the list by clicking on the Preview button. NOTE: It is recommended that you preview the video prior to adding it to your course, this is to ensure that it is the video that your are expecting it to be. When you have located a video, click the Select button. You will then be presented with a page on which there are several sections/options.

Section 1 – You can re-name the video title, and add extra information in the Description window

Section 2 – You can choose how the video is presented on your course page using the View dropdown menu.
Ensure that the Show YouTube URL and Show YouTube information buttons are set to Yes

Section 3 – You can choose to attach other files (from your local computer or course files) to the YouTube video item

Section 4 – Set the availability options of the video, and track the number of views if required

Section 5 – You can preview how the video will look in your course page using the Preview button. When ready, click Submit to create the page.

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Using Flickr Photo Mashups in Blackboard

The default setting for photos on Flickr is ‘All Rights Reserved’ this means you cannot copy and embed these photos into Blackboard. There is a specific Creative Commons section on Flickr containing photos that you are permitted to copy and embed.

To add a Flickr Photo:

Adding a Flickr Photo uses exactly the same process as adding a YouTube video.

1. Navigate to the Content Area in which you want to add a Flickr photo item
2. Hover over the Build Content button and click the Flickr Photo option under the Mashups section

3. In the new window that opens enter a search term in the search window (e.g. De Montfort university) and click the Go button

A list of Flickr Photos that match the search criteria will be displayed.

4. Search the list for the photo that you want to add to your Content Area. You can preview photos in the list by clicking on the Preview button. When you have located a photo, click the Select button. You will then be presented with a page on which there are several sections/options.

Section 1 – You can re-name the photo title, and add extra information in the Description window

Section 2 – You can choose how the photo is presented on your course page using the View dropdown menu.

You can also choose the display size of the photo using the Size dropdown menu
Ensure that the Show Flickr URL and Show Flickr information buttons are set to Yes

Section 3 – You can choose to attach other files (from your local computer or course files) to the Flickr photo item

Section 4 – Set the availability options of the photo, and track the number of views if required.

Section 5 – You can preview how the photo will look in your course page using the Preview button. When ready, click Submit to create the page.

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