Streaming Media Access

The best way to have your students access streaming media is asynchronously, i.e. assign viewing/listening to be done prior to synchronous/in-person online class time. Contact your subject librarian or the Library Help Desk for support in providing stable links to assigned streaming media. 

This guide includes information on providing streaming media access to your students. Click to jump to:

• Copyright Considerations for Streaming Video - Information to help ensure your assigned viewing/listening meets copyright and Fair Dealing requirements.
• Streaming Media and Zoom - Information and best practices for using streaming media in Zoom classes.
• Synchronous vs Asynchronous Viewing - Best practices and suggestions for designing online instruction to include streaming media.

The library provides access to a number of streaming video databases, and we can often purchase streaming access if it is commercially available through one of our vendors.

If you require students to view a DVD or VHS video that is not commercially available in a streaming format, the Library can convert it to a streaming digital copy so it is accessible to students in URCourses. 

Please place the request in QuickFind or email the library for more information.  Please be aware that digitization of DVDs depends on the availability of the material and can take two to four weeks, so plan ahead!

Conditions:

• The DVD/VHS video must not be available commercially in a streaming format from the following sources (a library vendor, iTunes, Google Play/Youtube, Netflix, Crave)
• The DVD/VHS video must be required viewing for the class, and it will be included as a substantial part of class discussion. Supplemental or optional material is not eligible.
• The Library makes DVD/VHS video available as streaming video only in URCourses based on instructor request, in compliance with sections 30.01 and 41.1 of the Copyright Act.
• The DVD/VHS must be part of the Library’s collection or owned by the instructor.
• We are not able to convert Blu-Ray discs.
• The Library must include the video link in its reading list system (accessible from URCourses) along with the required copyright statement.
• The Library will delete the file from the streaming server within 30 days of the last day of classes.

By submitting a request, the instructor agrees that:

1. This video is required viewing for all students in the class, and it will be included as a substantial part of the class discussion.
2. Access to the video will not be shared outside of members of the class.
3. The video, if provided by the instructor and not by the Library, is a legal copy.

Streaming media and zoom do not play well together:

• Video-conferencing and media streaming are both very high bandwidth activities to start with. This means that:
  • Bandwidth difficulties will mean many of your students will be watching a much lower quality version of the media even if you're broadcasting in HD.
  • If instructor and/or student videos are left active during streaming, this problem will be further amplified.
• Automated copyright protections can prevent you from broadcasting some media altogether depending on its platform
• Unpredictable technological hiccups can cause significant interruption to your intended lesson plan

Please choose asynchronous viewing and have your students watch the streaming media before class.

You can add streaming media to your reading lists in URCourses; for details and how-to, access our Reading Lists LibGuide.

Traditionally, viewing media in class has been a good way to ensure all students have seen the same media in the same way. However, streaming movies on Zoom has several technological and legal copyright hurdles that showing media in class does not.

When you stream media over Zoom, you are no longer simply "showing a video in class". From a legal perspective, streaming media over Zoom is a broadcast and could fall under different copyright rules. In addition, the technologies differ from platform to platform as to whether they have the capacity to be broadcast over Zoom.

For example, YouTube videos can be reliably streamed over Zoom as long as the following boxes are checked when initiating the screensharing:

While other platforms for video viewing, such as iTunes, have built-in Digital Rights Management (DRM) protections to prevent their broadcast over tools such as Zoom and will not work at all.

It is for these reasons that we highly recommend relying on asynchronous viewing for your classes; ie/ asking your students to watch media for discussion prior to the scheduled class time. As such, library staff cannot troubleshoot problems with streaming over zoom if you choose to go that route.