PlayPosit FAQs

Aside from interactivity, how does the viewing experience in Playposit differ from Youtube/Vimeo/Kaltura?

PlayPosit is not a video host, but rather an overlay tool that sits between the viewer and the video content. Still, the PlayPosit video player has some learning-specific features. For example, rewind, fast forward, video speed and captioning abilities can be optionally disabled to guide how learners advance through the bulb. The PlayPosit player also puts the focus on the video by removing distractions such as public comments, some advertisements, and recommended videos.  

What can I do to limit academic integrity issues with PlayPosit?

Although it is not intended for high-stakes assessments, PlayPosit has several options available to restrict dishonesty in low-stakes assessments. These include question banks, which randomize the displayed question at an interaction point, and settings available while creating a question interaction under Advanced (e.g., Randomize answer order; Only show feedback on the last attempt)

What are the technology requirements for PlayPosit?

PlayPosit is a web-based tool, and any computer, tablet, or mobile device can view bulbs using the latest version of Google Chrome (if using Safari, Firefox, or Edge, you may need to enable third-party cookies). However, for the best experience when building bulbs, please access PlayPosit through a desktop or laptop.

How long will CSULB have PlayPosit?

ATS is committed to supporting PlayPosit for at least the current three-year contract that extends through January 2024. Even if the subscription ends and instructor accounts revert to the free tier, existing bulbs and student data will be preserved. Moreover, faculty always have the opportunity to export their bulb activities as worksheets.

What about GoReact?

At this time, GoReact is not a campus-supported technology tool.  

Can I use PlayPosit at another campus where I teach?

Instructors will only be able to assign bulbs to students at CSULB. You may create a free account to try it with other students. You can also export bulb activities as a worksheet.

Does PlayPosit support accessibility?

In general, PlayPosit is an accessible tool, as it is compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level A accessibility standards. Closed captions that are in the original video source (YouTube, Vimeo, or Kaltura) are available in the PlayPosit bulb. To get searchable transcripts for a YouTube video, download captions in Step 2 of the Bulb Editor. Captions can also be uploaded or edited. Note the transcript cannot be used to skip sections if fast forward is disabled. Bulb interactions and learner activities are also compatible with screen readers.  

As a best practice, link the PlayPosit accessibility policy in your course.

Where are PlayPosit’s resources and troubleshooting information?

As PlayPosit continually evolves, you may have new questions or concerns. Review the official PlayPosit Help Articles for the latest information, such as this article on LMS Troubleshooting. You can also email ats-instructionaldesign@csulb.edu for support.

Students may refer to our PlayPosit Interactive Video for Students page for training and troubleshooting.

What trainings are available?

Visit PlayPosit webinars and recordings.

How are FERPA privacy issues handled by PlayPosit?

As a FERPA-compliant tool, learner attempt analytics is private to the bulb owner and co-editors (regardless of class ownership). To keep learner attempt data separate after collaborating on a bulb for separate classes, each instructor should make their own copy of the bulb before assigning it to learners. Learn more about role permissions.  

As a best practice, link the PlayPosit privacy policy in your course.  

Are my bulbs private?

Learners only view the bulbs you have assigned them. When creating a bulb, you will select a bulb privacy setting for visibility to other instructors:  

• private to owner/co-editors
• visible to members of your district/institution in the premade bulb library. This allows CSULB instructors to copy the bulb (this is the same level as “school/site”)
• visible to the public in the premade bulb library

Instructors who wish for learners to do PlayPosit activities outside of Canvas can assign individual bulbs or playlists. Assigning bulbs outside of an LMS allows for bulbs to be shared as a link or embedded, with attempts still monitored in PlayPosit (these instructions also work for playlists).  

View the PlayPosit privacy policy.

How can I collaborate with other instructors?

Instructors may collaborate with others on bulb creation or grading. To work on a bulb with another instructor (asynchronously), add them as a co-editor.  To allow another instructor, such as a TA or GA, to use an existing bulb, provide the facilitator role.  

FERPA Consideration: All owners and co-editors of a bulb can download analytics for all learner attempts on that bulb (regardless of class ownership). If this is a concern, then after the collaborators have finished co-editing the bulb, each instructor should make a separate copy of the bulb before assigning it to learners.

For Canvas courses with combined sections, how can I ensure FERPA privacy compliance without creating multiple separate PlayPosit videos? 

You can assign a bulb to multiple sections separately so that students do not see comments from other sections. Student notes are private between the student and instructor.  

How have faculty used PlayPosit in my field?

Faculty in a variety of fields have published PlayPosit use cases in higher ed. View some exemplar bulbs below:

• Best Practices for Online Lectures Bulb: Offers some helpful tips for creating engaging recorded lectures.
• Sample Law Lecture Bulb: This bulb demonstrates how to add engagement points and interactions to a lecture that helps bring the learner into the lecture recording.
• Video instructions: This bulb demonstrates 3rd party video content that has been personalized with instructor images and interactions.

Can I allow students to create bulbs?

Yes, you can! Creating a Learner-made bulb assignment in Canvas allows students to create their own interactive videos and share them with classmates. Peer Review bulb assignments go a step further, with students randomly assigned to view and give feedback on classmates’ bulbs with commenting and rubrics.

Can PlayPosit be used for non-academic or professional learning (e.g., teacher observations, student services)?

Yes. PlayPosit’s peer review feature makes it possible to use PlayPosit to submit bulbs and receive feedback. Feedback may include time-stamped comments as well as optional rubrics and anonymity. This may be useful for employees, career services, professional learning communities, and more. Learn more about peer review.

For use outside of Canvas, the Playlist feature allows you to construct a series of videos and make it available to anyone through a link as a standalone activity, with tracking and even verifiable certificates possible.  

Can I use Playposit for synchronous classes (as a personal response system/“Clicker”)?

Yes! With the PlayPosit Broadcast feature, learners in a synchronous class (whether in-person, hyflex, hybrid, or online) can respond live to a bulb using their personal device. This can be very useful for tracking synchronous participation and engagement. First, instructors create a bulb with activities,such as polls, with no video. Then, when linking it to Canvas, the bulb is set to “Live Broadcast.” Finally, while presenting face-to-face or in Zoom, instructors move the class through bulb activities in real-time so they can respond: learn how to use Broadcast.