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Digital Media Overview
What is Curriculum Video On
Demand?
Curriculum Video On Demand is a state-of-the-art streaming video platform that makes
it easier than ever to incorporate outstanding educational programs from Facts On
File and Films Media Group into your classroom or library.
What are the benefits of using Curriculum
Video On Demand?
The ability to view digital video in real time provides instant access to your entire
video collection from any computer with a high-speed Internet connection. There's
no need to track down borrowed or misplaced VHS tapes or DVDs. And the Curriculum
Video On Demand interface provides access to enhanced functionality that allows
you to take complete control of your video content and your students' viewing experience.
You can use Curriculum Video On Demand to search for specific video segments, organize
videos into folders, and create personal playlists for others to view. You can also
integrate videos directly into online card catalog systems and distance learning
courseware. And by using Curriculum Video On Demand, you will have access to usage
reports that provide you with valuable information about which videos are being
watched and how often.
How does streaming video work?
Streaming technology allows you to access high quality video content via the Internet.
Instead of downloading an entire video file before viewing it, streaming allows
you to begin viewing the video immediately while the rest of the program downloads
in the background. Using a computer with a high-speed Internet connection, you can
stream videos from any location.
What digital video file formats are available?
Curriculum Video On Demand provides videos as Flash Video streams with Windows Media
also available for most titles. Flash Videos can be streamed at 400k, 700k, or 1500k
bitrates. Windows Media streams are 300k. Higher bitrates deliver excellent resolution
when video is viewed in full-screen mode or projected. Lower bitrates may be better
choices in limited-bandwidth environments.
Curriculum Video On Demand Video Programming
What video programs are available on Curriculum
Video On Demand?
Curriculum Video On Demand combines our newest videos with many of our best-selling
programs to provide you with an up-to-date, cross-curricular digital library that
spans high school, advanced placement and college needs. With more than 5,000 available
titles, Curriculum Video On Demand allows you to provide a comprehensive video collection
for your school or library.
How often are new programs added to Curriculum
Video On Demand?
On average, 400 new programs are digitized, segmented and made available via Curriculum
Video On Demand every year. The appropriate new programs are automatically added
to your account and you will receive an email notifying you of the new titles as
they become available.
Curriculum Video On Demand Functionality
How do I access programs from Curriculum
Video On Demand?
Once you subscribe to Curriculum Video On Demand you will be able to access your
programs directly from
http://streaming.factsonfile.com.
Simply log in with your user name and password and you will be able to immediately
view any programs in your digital collection. Additional authentication options
are also available. To learn more about the supported authentication methods, download
the
Curriculum
Video On Demand Authentication Options PDF.
The Curriculum Video On Demand platform provides you with features that allow you
to control how the video content is used and viewed within your school or library.
Some of the basic functionality of Curriculum Video On Demand includes the ability
to:
- Access your digital content, anytime and anywhere you need it
- View full-length video programs in your digital collection
- View pre-defined learning objects for each program
- Create personal playlists to assemble full-length videos and/or segments into a
classroom presentation or to share with students for out-of-class viewing
- Integrate videos into electronic card catalog systems or distance learning course
- Search your digital video library by title or segment using keywords, subjects,
and other criteria
- Browse your digital video library using a curriculum-based taxonomy
- Organize your digital videos into custom folders for quick and easy access to your
favorite titles and segments
Clicking on a category in the View By Subject box displays the subjects and topics
associated with that category. The adjacent numbers indicate the number of video
titles associated with each subject and topic. Please note that many videos and
segments are appropriate for use in multiple subject categories, so the total numbers
displayed at one level may not equal the sum displayed at all the sublevels.
How do I view Curriculum Video On Demand
video in full screen?
Full-screen support is available when using Windows Media Player and Flash Video.
To enter full-screen mode in Windows Media, please follow these steps:
1. Start playing the video in Windows Media Player
2. Right-click anywhere within the player
3. Select the "Zoom" option
4. Select the "Full Screen" option
5. To exit, right-click anywhere within the player, and select "Exit Full Screen"
To enter full-screen mode in Flash, click the “window extend” icon on the right
of the Flash video player.
Does Curriculum Video On Demand support
closed captioning?
Yes, many of our titles support closed captioning. Closed captioning is available
using Windows Media Player and Flash Player. For Windows Media, if the "CC" icon
appears below the video window, simply click on it to activate captions. For Flash
Video, click the “chat bubble” icon embedded in the right side of the Flash player
to toggle the captions on or off. You may configure your default caption settings
using the “My Preferences” page.
How Do I view captions in Windows Media
full-screen mode?
In full-screen mode, you must first configure Windows Media 11 to support captions.
You need to do the following steps one time only:
1. Start playing the video in Windows Media Player
2. Enter full-screen mode (for instructions, see above)
3. Right-click anywhere within the player
4. Select the "Lyrics, Captions, and Subtitles" option
5. Select the "Subtitles" option
6. Right-click within the player again
7. Select the "Exit Full Screen" option
8. Enter full-screen mode again, and the captions will now play
What are title URLs and playlists?
Title URLs are free-standing, persistent URLs of for specific videos that can be
shared within your institution, integrated into an electronic card catalog system,
or placed in any course management system. Every title in your Curriculum Video
On Demand collection comes with a pre-configured Title URL. These can be found on
the “View Video” page in the “Details” tab.
Playlists are customized links that can consist of any combination of segments and/or
full videos. Users can create playlists by using the “Playlist” tab on the “View
Video” page. A single segment or multiple segments from a video can be selected
to create a playlist. Segments from multiple programs can also be combined into
a single playlist. Once a playlist has been created, it can be edited by accessing
the “My Playlists” tab. Custom playlists will all have a free-standing, persistent
URL that can be shared with students or others in your institution.
Why do Title URL's look different?
We have recently updated the format to add a layer of authentication. Any of the
old format Title URLs that you have catalogued will still work, but all new Titles
moving forward will have this new format.
The new format automatically includes information about your account, including
IP authentication data if you are using an IP range. If you are not using IP-based
authentication, these new links will take you to a login page, and then once you
log in, it will take you to the video.
In addition, the new Title URL will now bring you into the platform to view the
video, and will offer full browsing and search functionality.
What are Segment URLs?
Segment URLs are free-standing, persistent URLs of for specific video segments that
can be shared within your institution, integrated into an electronic card catalog
system, or placed in any course management system. Every segment in your Films On
Demand collection comes with a pre-configured Segment URL. These can be found on
the “View Video” page in the “Segments” tab.
How do I access a playlist?
Playlists can be accessed via a playlist code or a playlist link. To use a playlist
code, students can access a specific playlist by entering the code into the playlist
login box on the Curriculum Video On Demand home page. To find the code for a playlist
that you have created, log into the “My Playlist” tab in Curriculum Video On Demand.
To use playlist links, your collection will need to be configured for proxy server
authentication. With authentication, a secure page listing all your collection's
playlists can be easily accessed by your students. Please contact Facts On File’s
technical support team (
support@factsonfile.com
) or your school’s administrator for more information.
Customers may make videos, segments, or playlists freely available for viewing by
authorized users within a secure environment using approved authentication procedures.
Links may be posted on a course management system, institutional web site, or online
card catalog, provided these are accessible only to authorized users. Customers
or users are prohibited from making a video or any part thereof available to any
person or organization that is not an authorized user. This includes web sites such
as YouTube and other publicly-accessible electronic networks, blogs, forums, and
social networking services. Links to Curriculum Video On Demand content that are
posted on information services such as OCLC’s WorldCat must require logging in by
an authorized user to view the video. Other permitted and prohibited uses are described
in the Digital License Agreement.
Curriculum Video On Demand Technical Questions
What are the technical requirements to
use Curriculum Video On Demand?
Curriculum Video On Demand supports most Windows and Macintosh operating systems.
High-speed Internet access is required with a minimum of 380 kbps DSL, or 500 kbps
Cable Modem connectivity. Because Curriculum Video On Demand provides the opportunity
to view videos at different bitrates, users can select the option that best fits
their bandwidth needs. For additional technical information, download the Curriculum
Video
On
Demand Technical Requirements PDF.
Curriculum Video On Demand can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. All you need
is a high-speed Internet connection and a computer that meets the minimum technical
requirements. Depending on the authentication options you select, remote access
will be possible for educators and students. To learn more about the supported authentication
methods, download the Curriculum Video
On Demand Authentication Options PDF.
If you have administrative permission, you will be able to access meta-data information,
view title and collection status, view playlist URLs, manage users, and view usage
statistics for every title and segment in your Curriculum Video On Demand collection.
The Administrator options are found within the “My Preferences” tab.
What authentication options are available
for Curriculum Video On Demand?
Curriculum Video On Demand supports both IP and Proxy authentication. We can provide
a specific Curriculum Video On Demand URL that is authenticated to the on-campus
IP ranges of your institution. Similarly, we can provide a Curriculum Video On Demand
URL that is authenticated to the IP address of your proxy server for off-campus
use. This options works well for any institution wishing to utilize their EzProxy
access. To learn more about the supported authentication methods, download the Curriculum
Video
On
Demand Authentication Options PDF.
The following meta-data is available for every Curriculum Video On Demand title
and segment: Title, Description, Copyright Date, and Run-Time. All of the available
meta-data can be printed or exported as a Microsoft Excel document. The meta-data
is available for Administrators within the “My Preferences” tab.
Can Curriculum Video On Demand Titles be
added to an online card catalog system?
Yes, titles in Curriculum Video On Demand can be added to an online card catalog
system. Using the available meta-data and the Title URL link, a card catalog entry
can be created. If the card catalog is accessible to people outside of the purchasing
institution, the Title URLs must be authenticated to prevent unauthorized access.
Can digital video programs be downloaded
to my computer from Curriculum Video On Demand?
The current version of Curriculum Video On Demand does not allow individual users
to download video files to their computers or mobile devices.
I am having problems using Firefox and
Windows Media 11
A plug-in is required to solve some issues encountered when using Firefox, Windows
Media 11, and Windows XP or Vista. Known issues include a shifting of the Windows
Media player and an over-sized video when playing 600k bit rate files. Click Click
here to download the Firefox plug-in. After installation, you will need
to restart your Firefox browser.
When importing a Title URL into your Course Management System, try copying the link
as plain text as opposed to setting it as a web link. Also, make sure when copying
the link that you do not copy any additional spaces at the end of the URL. Some
Course Management Systems, such as Angel, can be rigid in how they accept URLs and
that extra space could cause an issue.
Find Out More
Where can I find more information about
the Curriculum Video On Demand technical requirements?
For additional technical information, download the Curriculum Video On Demand Technical
Requirements PDF or view the Curriculum Video On Demand User’s Guide PDF (coming
soon).
Where can I find more information about
how to use Curriculum Video On Demand?
The Curriculum Video On Demand User's Guide contains information about how to use
all of the features and functions available for users and administrators. Click
here to download the Curriculum Video On Demand User’s Guide PDF . QuickStart Guide
PDFs are also available to provide you with simple steps for using the most common
features of Films On Demand. Registered users can also access interactive Flash
tutorials about how to use many of the available features of Curriculum Video On
Demand – these can be found in the “Help” center.
Can I try Curriculum Video On Demand for
free?
Curriculum Video On Demand can be previewed for free by qualified librarians and
educators. To see if you are eligible for trial access to Curriculum Video On Demand,
contact one of our online sales reps at 888-744-6398.
How can I contact someone to learn more
about Curriculum Video On Demand?
If you have any questions about Curriculum Video On Demand, please don't hesitate
to call 888-744-6398 for an online sales rep to assist you. If you require technical
support, please contact us at 888-744-6398 or via email at
support@factsonfile.com.