Tag Archives: embed video

Help! Missing Flash and Embed Media Buttons

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Some of you have realised today that your Embed Flash swf Button flash1.jpg and Media button media2.jpg in your Write Post Visual Editor are missing from your Edublogs dashboard.

Worse still you’re wondering what’s happen and how will you embed flash files and videos.

Why The Flash and Embed Media Button Are Missing

Since we can now directly paste video and flash embed codes directly into our blogs, we don’t need to use Embed Flash swf Button and Media button anymore. Which is a good thing because using them really slows down the loading of our blogs.

You can read more about this change to the Edublogs dashboard here in the Edublogs forum.

I will be slowly working through previous posts that show how to embed using these buttons to make amendments. But what this means is we can copy and paste pretty much most ‘embedding’ code we pick up around the web directly into our Edublog posts using our Code Tab.

How To Embed Flash Files (swf)

Say for example you wanted to embed a Animoto into your post:

  1. On your blog dashboard, go to Write > Post
  2. Completely write your post adding all text and images including adding your categories, tags and post title.
  3. It’s best to add any code you want to embed as the last step just before you click publish as you’re less likely to have problems.
  4. Click on Save and View this Post to do any final edits on your postImage of how to View Post
  5. Now copy your embed code from Animoto

    6. animotoembed.jpg

  6. Click on your HTML Tab
  7. Paste the embed code from Animoto into your post where you want it to appear then immediately press Publish.

Image of pasting code HTML Tab

How To Embed Video into Your Posts

There are two ways that you can embed videos into your posts:

1. Upload your videos directly into your blog posts.

You can upload and embed videos directly into your blog posts provided they are less than 20 MB. This is an excellent option if your organisation blocks video sharing websites.

Read this post to learn how to Embed Videos Directly Into Your Blog Posts (you can also upload audio files using the same method).

If you’re planning on uploading lots of video and audio files directly to your blog it is worth paying the $25 per year to become an edublogs supporter to recieve extra storage capacity.

2. Embed from Video Sharing Web site using the HTML Tab

Embedding from video sharing web sites using the HTML Tab is the same process used for embedding Flash files (swf).

Read this post to learn more about Video Sharing Web Sites and how to customise YouTube videos so they don’t include related videos.

FINAL THOUGHT

Remember embedding some objects into posts can be a bit touchy.

If you press Save and View this Post when embedding or go back into the post after it has been published it may break the code and you will need to re-paste the code back into your post. Breaking the code means the post will look really weird on your blog.

So at the moment it’s best to add any code you want to embed as the last step just before you click publish as you’re less likely to have problems.

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Embedding Videos From Video Sharing Web Sites

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Our last post showed how to upload videos directly into your blog plus linked to tutorials on creating your own videos.

I love teaching people how to create digital stories and videos because it’s a skill that most learners, regardless of age, enjoy learning, experimenting with and are more likely to spend time perfecting their skills in their own time. Great way of engaging even the most reluctant educator to use technology.

However there are so many videos available online, on so many different topics, that it’s sometimes more effective to use ‘others videos’ than create your own video.

Locating Videos Online

I find the fastest way to locate videos is to search video sharing sites. These are my favourite sites:

1. Google Video

When you search Google Video it searches videos that people have added using Google’s services (YouTube, Google Video) as well as videos from other third-party video sites (e.g. Blip TV, Yahoo Video, Expo Television).

2. YouTube

YouTube searches only videos uploaded to their site. The same search term may give different results for Google Video and YouTube, even though Google owns YouTube. This is why I often search both Google Video and YouTube (check out results for aquaculture – Google Video compared to YouTube).

3. VideoJug

This video site has lots of great “how to do” videos with written transcript of the videos. Here are examples of their video tutorials on using ipods, podcasting and itunes. Only downside of this site is you definitely don’t want to send your students to the site to check out the videos. You may be better downloading videos from this site and showing from your computer.

Embedding Videos

  1. On your blog dashboard, go to Write > Post
  2. Completely write your post adding all text and images including adding your categories, tags and post title.
  3. Make sure you tell your readers that you have embedded a video below as many feed readers such as Google Reader may remove the video).
  4. It’s best to add any code you want to embed as the last step just before you click publish as you’re less likely to have problems.
  5. Click on Save and View this Post to do any final edits on your post
  6. Locate video you want to embed from Google Video or YouTube. Copy the embed code for the video.
    Image of Locating Embed Code on Google Video
  7. Click on HTML Tab
  8. Paste the embed code for the video into your post where you want it to appear then immediately press Publish.

Image of Embedding Code into post

I’ve added the Jurrasic fart video below using this method (apparently it’s funny).

[kml_flashembed movie="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=3953709505775506774" width="400" height="326" wmode="transparent" /]

Customizing YouTube Videos

The related video links at the end of YouTube Videos is an issue for educators who don’t want their students to checking out the other videos. YouTube now allows you to customise your player which means you can choose not to show the related videos.

  1. Locate video you want to embed from YouTube
  2. Click on customize
  3. Change to Don’t include related videos
  4. Copy the Embed code
    videoyou.jpg
  5. On your blog dashboard, go to Write > Post
  6. Write the contents of your post i.e. add all text and images plus your tags and categories. Make sure you tell your readers that you have embedded a video below as many feed readers such as Google Reader may remove the video).
  7. Just before you are ready to publish your post click on the HTML Tab.
  8. Paste the embed code of the video from YouTube in the desired location then immediately press Publish.

At the moment embedding objects into posts are a bit touchy (when you embed a YouTube video like this you are embedding an object). If you press Save and View this Post or go back into the post after it has been published it generally will break the code and you will need to re-paste the code back into your post.

I’ve embedded Evolution of Dance below to show you what a customise YouTube Video Player looks like. It’s also funny and I thought we could all do with education on the evolution of dance.

Final Thought

What is your favourite video sharing web sites? How do you use video with your learners?

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