Kaltura decommission and transition to EchoVideo
What is happening?
The Kaltura video server platform will be retired as a service for teaching at UQ at the end of 2024.
For Semester 2 2024 all videos hosted in Kaltura will be moved automatically to EchoVideo and re-linked to Learn.UQ (Blackboard) and UQ Extend courses (no action required from the UQ course coordinators). Kaltura will no longer be available in Learn.UQ for embedding videos and student video assignment submission.
Kaltura will not be available in Learn.UQ for embedding videos and student video assignment submission from the start of Semester 2 2024.
Starting Semester 1 2024, UQ teaching staff are being advised to use Echo360 instead of Kaltura for embedding videos in Learn.UQ (Blackboard), student video assignment submission and for desktop recording.
Why was it decided to decommission Kaltura and transition to EchoVideo?
Since recent improvements, Echo now offers very similar functionality to Kaltura. Rationalising our video systems will simplify environment for teaching staff, and students, and reduce support complexity.
How was it decided?
The retirement of Kaltura was decided as part of the ITS Technology Master planning process at the end of 2023. To learn more please visit the UQ Technology Master Plan page.
Which video servers are available for teaching at UQ?
Kaltura, is a UQ video (and audio) server. It allows staff to upload videos directly into Learn.UQ (Blackboard). Students can play video files live from inside the course (variable rate streaming) or by downloading them. Kaltura is also used by students for the submission of videos to a Blackboard assignment. Kaltura also includes basic video editing tools, a webcam recording tool and a desktop recording tool.
Echo360 is UQ's lecture recording system and includes a video (and audio) server. Teaching spaces across UQ's campuses are fitted with equipment to record lectures automatically based on the timetable. The recordings are automatically made available to students through the Lecture Recordings link in their Learn.UQ course site. Zoom recordings can also be configured to automatically publish to Echo through the Lecture Recordings link. Echo360 also has the same desktop recording capability as Kaltura, embedding videos in Learn.UQ. Echo now has video assignment submission functionality.
Can I continue to use Kaltura during 2024?
Yes, teaching staff can continue to use Kaltura throughout Semester 1 - 2024 for desktop recording, however you are strongly encouraged to start adopting Echo360. Kaltura will not be available in Learn.UQ for embedding videos and student video assignment submission from the start of Semester 2 2024.
Staff communications
- 29 January 2024: Newsletter article recommending Echo over Kaltura
- 5 February 2024: What's new in eLearning session
- 28 February 2024: eLearning Update forum
- Pre-semester 1, 2024: Direct emails and meetings with school and faculty learning designers
- Throughout 2024: Regular updates will be provided on the changes through Teaching and Elearning News, Elearning Update, and Elearning Operational Forum.
Proposed project timeline
- Semester 1 2024: change management (newsletter articles, school/faculty presentations, emails)
- Test migration of 100 sample videos in UQ staging environment - April 2024
- Test migration of 1000 sample videos in UQ production environment – April 2024
- Vendor to migrate (copy) and relink/re-embed all UQ videos (staff recordings and student submissions) – inter-semester break 2024, approximately 2 weeks (no action required from the UQ users' side)
- End of Semester 1 2024: Kaltura content may no longer be available.