Panopto (video platform / lecture recording)

Panopto is a video management system that enables teachers to provide video content for courses, including lecture recordings and live streaming. Students can upload videos as part of coursework and examinations. The platform is also suitable for storing videos for public relations, training and internal communication. Live streaming of lectures, conferences and public events at the university round off the service.

Panopto can be used by all members of the University of Kassel and is particularly suitable for

• Lecturers who want to record their courses or create their own explanatory videos
• Teachers who want to integrate videos into their courses.
• Students who want to prepare and follow up courses with videos or study for exams
• Students who want to provide videos for coursework or examinations
• Employees in the departments and administration, e.g. to store image videos or to make videos accessible for training or the operation of systems.

The Teaching Service Center offers support for members of the university for the use of Panopto and is also responsible for the technical operation.

Panopto is a tool for video-based teaching. It was specially developed for use at universities. It makes it easy to record, manage and share video content such as lectures, presentations or training courses. With Panopto, users can search, edit and stream videos and make them available securely by linking them to the Moodle learning management system. The platform also offers automatic transcriptions, interactive elements such as quizzes and comprehensive analysis tools.

As an alternative - albeit with lower quality - to the Panopto software, videos could also be created with programs such as PowerPoint or OBS Studio, and Zoom sessions could be recorded and then made available via Moodle or embedded on websites.

• Video recording: Easy recording of lectures, presentations and meetings.
• Video management: Central management, organization and archiving of all video content in a user-friendly media library.
• Video streaming: Reliable and stable streaming of videos in high quality, both for live broadcasts and on-demand.
• Search function: Searchability of videos including spoken content, slide text and notes thanks to automatic transcription.
• Edit & share: Convenient online video editing and flexible sharing to individuals, groups or publicly.
• Integration: Connection to Moodle, which is also used for rights management in Panopto
• Analysis & reports: Insight into usage statistics and analyses to optimize learning and work processes.
• Accessibility : Panopto automatically creates transcripts and subtitles for videos, which benefits people with hearing impairments. Panopto's user interface is also designed to be compatible with common screen readers. Users can adjust the playback speed of the videos.

• Recording lectures and seminars:
  Lecturers use Panopto to record their lectures and seminars. Students can watch the videos again later, pause them or search for specific terms.
• Creation and provision of explanatory videos
  Lecturers use Panopto to produce their own explanatory videos, exercise demonstrations or summaries of difficult topics, for example. These videos are then available to students to prepare for exams, for example.
• Flipped classroom concepts and interactive video tasks:
  Panopto can be used to redesign courses according to the flipped classroom principle, for example: Students watch instructional videos on Panopto at home in preparation. They then work together on tasks or discuss them during class time. Interactive elements such as quiz questions embedded in the video can be used to check understanding directly.

To record videos on your own computer using the Panopto software, you will need internet access, a microphone and, if necessary, a webcam. In the lecture halls and selected seminar rooms, there is an appropriate infrastructure for recording or live streaming lectures.

Panopto is campus-licensed - all persons with a UniAccount, both employees and students, can use Panopto. Registration takes place via Moodle. Temporary access can also be created for external users for congresses, conferences, etc.

Ordering an event recording: Order form on the pages of the Teaching Service Center

No regular training courses are currently offered. The team at the Teaching Service Center can advise you on didactic questions or introductory scenarios.

The recordings are stored on servers in the EU. Access is restricted by default in accordance with the rights and roles concept in Moodle.
Recordings in the lecture hall may only be made with the consent of the visible or audible persons. Information on data protection-compliant use is available on the info page of the Teaching Service Center.

The use of Panopto is subject to the campus-wide license. Teachers are responsible for ensuring that the content used complies with copyright law.