1) Video Quizzes

Video quizzes offer a low-stakes method for assessing students’ understanding of key concepts presented in video lectures. These quizzes feature questions that appear at predetermined points during the video—typically following the explanation of an important concept—to immediately check comprehension.  See example below.

This format provides two main benefits for students:

  1. Reinforcement of Key Concepts: The appearance of a question signals the importance of the preceding content, helping students identify material likely to appear on future high-stakes assessments.

  2. Self-Assessment: An incorrect response serves as an immediate prompt to review and revisit the relevant portion of the lecture.

Video quizzes can be created using instructor-uploaded media or existing YouTube content. They may function as ungraded practice tools or be fully integrated into the Canvas gradebook for formal assessment.

How to create a video quiz 

How to add a video quiz as a graded assignment

2) Video Discussions

In a video discussion, instructors add video prompts while students submit video responses. This approach is designed to foster unscripted, reflective engagement with open-ended prompts*. A straightforward yet effective prompt for video discussions is: “What is something that surprised you in this week’s reading?”

One key advantage of video discussions is that regularly seeing and hearing classmates can contribute to a stronger sense of community.

*If your goal is for students to provide a specific response to a prompt, then a text-based discussion is recommended.

Instructions for creating a prompt for a video discussion (instructors)

Instructions for replying to a prompt (students)

3) Assignments with Video Submission

Instructors may choose to have students submit assignments in video format. These submissions can take various forms, such as individual or group presentations, recorded project demonstrations, video reflections, or creative multimedia projects.

There are several reasons for incorporating video submissions into a course. One key reason is the opportunity to assess students' verbal communication and presentation skills—important competencies in both academic and professional contexts. Video assignments can also provide a more authentic demonstration of student understanding, particularly in disciplines where clarity of expression, confidence, and delivery are critical.

Additionally, video submissions can reduce reliance on generative AI tools. Since students must verbally articulate their ideas,  the format encourages originality and personal engagement with the material.

How to set up Assignments with Video Submission

4) Lecture Video Discussions

With Lecture Video Discussions, students add comments to a lecture video at a certain time.  Then when the video is played, the comments pop up on the top right corner of the video at the time the comment was submitted (see image below).  This allows for students to have text-based interactions about the same topic all together.

Each dot in the media player’s time line represents a comment. Additionally, comments are visible in the space below the video.

*This activity is not automatically added and graded in the Canvas grade book.  However, you can create an Assignment  and add grades on your own.

Instructions for setting up a Lecture Video Discussion.

screenshot of a video that shows a few student comments