Streaming Videos Available Through SMC Library

The vast majority of the 100,000 streaming videos available through the library provide closed captioning and transcripts.

Before assigning any videos for class, check to make sure your desired videos include accurate captions. Contact the Library if you have any concerns about any particular videos, as some streaming platforms will provide rapid captioning for accessibility purposes.

Tips on teaching with videos, courtesy of Jason Jakaitis, assistant professor in the Communication department:

• Kanopy has a lot of short films available - those are far easier for students to commit to.
• If you assign a film, build in a quiz or response post to ensure engagement - and ask questions that can't be answered via the Wikipedia page.
• Movies are long and students will often play them while doing other things - I try to draw their attention to 2-3 specific scenes in advance. Students will also intuitively focus on the narrative of the film, but often the meaning exists in the style or subtext. The point of the medium (in the west) is to render us passive, uncritical. Framing the film in advance will help them see through some of the hypnotizing effects of cinema.
• I make sure the students know that each new Kanopy title rental is REALLY expensive for the Library, so please don't randomly watch 3-4 minutes of a bunch of movies - it can get prohibitively expensive.
• Note that there are more and more "secondary" film resources (video essays) that are shorter and perhaps a more effective means of synthesizing ideas/conversation.

SMC faculty and students, want to share your tips for teaching or learning with videos? Email gkl2@stmarys-ca.edu.

In addition to using the Library's videos, you can also record and share your own lectures using Canvas Studio.

For more information on Canvas Studio, see the Faculty Quicksarts on Canvas or contact IT Services.