What is happening?
Starting Semester 1 2024, UQ teaching staff were advised to use EchoVideo Deep Linking tool for embedding videos in Learn.UQ (Blackboard) and student video assignment submissions. For creating, editing and sharing new videos Echo360 Desktop recording tool was recommended.
Following the UQ Technology Master Plan, Kaltura video server will be decommissioned by the end of 2024.
From 3 June 2024, Kaltura was placed in a read-only mode and the EchoVideo Deep Linking tool now need to be used for embedding new videos in Learn.UQ and student video submissions. Staff and students are able to view current Kaltura videos in Learn.UQ until 1 July 2024.
In Semester 2 2024 all videos hosted in Kaltura were moved automatically to Echo360 and re-linked to Learn.UQ (Blackboard). During the re-embedding process, for every video, a separate item with an Echo video embed was created and an old item with Kaltura embed made unavailable to students. You may wish to delete the old item with a Kaltura duplicate.
Finally in January 2025 the highest possible quality Kaltura content will be made available in Echo user libraries so it can be used where required.
Project Timeline
- Semester 1 2024: Communications, testing and change management (newsletter articles, school/faculty presentations, emails)
- 3 June 2024: Kaltura was switched to read-only mode. Videos in Kaltura will be viewable until the 1 July.
- May - June 2024: Vendor migration (copy from Kaltura) and relink/re-embed all videos as Echo (including staff recordings and student submissions) – during May - June and completed by 1 July. During the re-embedding process, a separate item with an Echo video embed is created and an old item with Kaltura embed is made unavailable to students. You may wish to delete the old item with Kaltura duplicate.
- November – December 2024: Highest possible quality Kaltura content made available in Echo user libraries
- 31 December 2024: Kaltura is decommissioned.
High quality content migration - December 2024
After the initial content migration in May-June 2024, it was identified that in some cases higher quality video was required and also available in Kaltura, and therefore a supplementary migration should occur during November-December. As with the previous migration, this work will be completed transparently and without disruption to staff or student experience. After the additional migration is complete, EchoVideo users will note they have two copies of each migrated Kaltura video in their Echo library – one at original migration quality, and the other will be the highest possible quality (sometimes the same quality). Please do not delete the highest possible quality videos prefixed with 'HQ', as these cannot be recovered.
If you find the quality of videos embedded in your Blackboard courses are insufficient for student use, and a higher quality version was originally available in Kaltura, you can embed the HQ version via the Echo Deep Linking Tool then remove the originally embedded item from your Blackboard course. If you need any assistance with doing this, please contact the eLearning Support team.
Why was it decided to decommission Kaltura and transition to EchoVideo?
The UQ Technology Master Plan process decided that UQ should retire Kaltura as soon as possible because of recent improvements to Echo which now offers very similar functionality to Kaltura. Rationalising our video systems will simplify the environment for teaching staff, and students, reduce support complexity, and save money.
How was it decided?
The retirement of Kaltura was decided as part of the ITS Technology Master planning process at the end of 2023. To learn more please visit the UQ Technology Master Plan page.
Which video servers are available for teaching at UQ?
Kaltura, is a UQ video (and audio) server. It allows staff to upload videos directly into Learn.UQ (Blackboard). Students can play video files live from inside the course (variable-rate streaming) or by downloading them. Students also use Kaltura for the submission of videos to a Blackboard assignment. Kaltura also includes basic video editing tools, a webcam recording tool and a desktop recording tool.
Echo360 is UQ's lecture recording system and includes a video (and audio) server. Teaching spaces across UQ's campuses are fitted with equipment to record lectures automatically based on the timetable. The recordings are automatically made available to students through the Lecture Recordings link in their Learn.UQ course site. Zoom recordings can also be configured to publish to Echo through the Lecture Recordings link automatically. Echo360 also has the same desktop recording capability as Kaltura, embedding videos in Learn.UQ. Echo now has video assignment submission functionality.
Can I continue to use Kaltura during 2024?
Teaching staff can continue to use Kaltura throughout Semester 1 - 2024 for desktop recording, however, you are strongly encouraged to start adopting Echo360. Kaltura will not be available in Learn.UQ for embedding videos and student video assignment submissions from 3 June 2024.
View all Frequently Asked Questions
Staff communications
Completed
- Throughout 2024: Regular updates will be provided on the changes through Teaching and Elearning News, Elearning Update, and Elearning Operational Forum.
- October 2024: Feedback that there were some videos migrated that were not at the same quality that was avaialble in Kaltura.
- 22 July 2024: UQ Update article informing that the initial transition is completed
- 15 July 2024: Newsletter article informing that the transition is completed
- 8 - 22 July 2024: Impact message informing that the transition is completed
- July 2024: Faculties asked to check quality of resulting migration
- 17 June: UQ Update article reminding that migration is in progress
- 11 June: SBMS T&L newsletter
- 4 June: eLearning newsletter
- 30 May 2024: Education Update in the School of Economics
- 28 May 2024: Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) Program Committee Meeting
- 27 May 2024: Impact message advising that Kaltura will be switched to Read-only mode as of 3June 2024
- 24 May 2024: Master of Mental Health Program Committee
- 20-28 May 2024: Impact message informing that Kaltura will be switched to Read-only mode as of 3 June 2024
- 21 May 2024: SBMS Newsletter article advising that Kaltura will be switched to Read-only mode as of 3 June 2024
- 20 May 2024: UQ Update article advising that Kaltura will be switched to Read-only mode as of 3 June 2024
- 16 May 2024: Information session with Tier 1 AskUs team
- 16 May 2024: direct emails to all Kaltura users from ITaLI eLearning team
- May - June 2024: eLearning Systems and Support email signature banner
- 13 May 2024: Information session with Tier 2 AskUs team
- May 2024: Academy of Medical Education staff email signature
- May 2024: SoM eLearning email signature
- 10 May 2024: SPH newsletter
- 9 May: SoM Year 3 and 4 Course Administrator staff Teams group chat
- 9 May 2024: Medical School Teaching and Learning Teams site
- 7 May 2024: SBMS T&L newsletter
- 7 May 2024: Newsletter article advising that Kaltura will be decommissioned and offering additional information
- 7 May 2024: UQ Update article advising that Kaltura will be decommissioned and offering additional information
- 30 April - 5 May 2024: Impact message informing that Kaltura will be decommissioned and videos migrated to Echo360
- 16 April 2024: Newsletter article recommending Echo over Kaltura for students video assignments
- 12 March 2024: Newsletter article recommending Echo over Kaltura for students video assignments
- 28 February 2024: eLearning Update forum: Advising that Kaltura will be decommissioned.
- 5 February 2024: What's new in the eLearning session: Advising that Kaltura will be decommissioned.
- 29 January 2024: Newsletter article recommending Echo over Kaltura
- Pre-semester 1, 2024: Direct emails and meetings with school and faculty learning designers.