Opencast (API) (Community)

This version of the Opencast-Plugin for ILIAS is operated and developed collaboratively by a community.

1 Purpose of the Plugin

The Opencast Plugin is a video repository and connects ILIAS with Opencast using the external API. Opencast is one of the leading open source video capture and distribution systems for universitites and organizations: www.opencast.org. A working Opencast server with an active api is needed in order to use the plugin on ILIAS.

The plugin enables the integration of existing or new Opencast series in ILIAS courses and groups. Video files can be cut and edited using the Opencast video editor. They can be uploaded manually, without having to consider the usual ILIAS upload limit. Advanced settings and RBAC-functionalities enable a variety of pedagogical use cases, such as inverted classroom or peer review scenarios.

Main features:

• Store and visualize large video and audio files (without having to consider the limitations of the usual ILIAS upload limit). Supported media files: mov, mp4, m4v, flv, mpeg, avi, mp4, mp3, m4a, wma, aac, ogg, flac, aiff, wav
• Record videos: Allow users to to record videos (screen, camera, microphone) with the browser-based tool «OpencastStudio» (demo: https://studio.opencast.org/). The recordings are uploaded directly in the corresponding series.
• Publish videos additionally on a video portal: Allow course administrators to publish their videos on an external video platform using Opencast's own video portal «Tobira» (demo: https://tobira.opencast.org/). The permission settings of your video portal can be configured in the plugin settings (e.g. public or restricted to all members of your University).
• LiveStreaming with chat option: In combination with a separate streaming server (e.g. Wozwa, nginx) and compatible Recording Agents (e.g. Extron SMP Devices), you are able to livestream directly out of your lecture halls and distribute it via ILIAS or your video portal (e.g. Tobira). The feature also offers an optional on-screen chat for questions.
• Scheduling of lecture recordings: If enabled in the plugin settings, course administrators are enabled to schedule new events. The IDs of your recording stations are automatically retrieved via OPENCAST API.
• Flexible right settings:
  • De-/activate Download: Users are can be allowed or prevented to download videos (in mp4 format). If the download is deactivated, videos are streamed via the Opencast Player. The player opens in a new window or is integrated within the plugin, depending on the settings.
  • Individual rights management for each video: Videos can be assigned to users. Users see only the videos they are assigned for and therefore, the right to one's own image can be protected..
• Collaboration: If individual rights management is enabled, peer groups can be created. Peer group members only see videos of other group members.
• Upload and record for course members: Allow students to upload and/or record their own video material and if needed, define which group members are allowed to see them.
• Video analysis: The Opencast Annotation tool allows to write text annotations and set labels, see https://github.com/opencast/annotation-tool. Use cases are...
  • Theory or category-based video analysis
  • Enhanced "lecture recording" scenarios
  • Video analyses for research projects
  • implementation in inverted classroom scenarios
  • Video-based self-reflection & peer coaching
• Opencast Videos as PageComponents: Embed opencast videos to any ILIAS tool & plugin that allows administrators to customize pages in the content view. (additional Plugin ist required)

• Further functionalities:
  • Reporting function for Quality Problems (configurable in the plugin settings)
  • Reporting function for Date Modifications (configurable in the plugin settings)
  • Set events offline (videos are only visible for administrators)
  • Configure own opencast publication workflows (e.g. duplicate videos, automatic subtitling)

2 Status

• Status of implementation: Stable releases for ILIAS 7 and ILIAS 8
• Related page in DC for plugins and add-ons: OpencastPageComponent (Community)
• Responsible developer: Coordinative maintainer: iLUB, University of Bern: info.ilub@unibe.ch
• GitHub repository: https://github.com/opencast-ilias/OpenCast

3 Suggested Features

The following features are momentarily under development (see: Specifiactions, in german, planned date of merging: July 2024):

• Upload subtitles and thumbnails
• Offer OCR text of files
• Expand permissions to enable mor scenarios
• Status (26.6.2024): All PRs are ther

The following features have already been suggested to extend/improve the plugin (see: Prioritizations, in german):

• Control the availability of recordings over time
• Life cycle management
• Secure retrieval with JWT (https://github.com/opencast/opencast/discussions/5334)

4 Versions and Implemented Features

5 Stakeholders and Known Users

Known users:

• Universität Bern (www.unibe.ch)
• Universität zu Köln (www.uni-koeln.de)
• Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln (www.rfh-koeln.de)
• Universität Tübingen (www.uni-tuebingen.de/)
• Universität Bonn (www.uni-bonn.de)
• Hochschule Fresenius (www.hs-fresenius.de)
• Universität Münster (www.uni-muenster.de)
• Universität Konstanz (www.uni-konstanz.de)

Developpers:

• sr.solutions: Bufixing, Refactoring, Updates for new ILIAS-Version
• ELAN e.V.: T: Development of new features