Important!
This page has been updated with new information on Monday 24th August
UTS is committed to ensuring that all students can continue to engage in their studies. This will require subject materials and learning experiences to be made available to students studying offshore. It is important to note that this will involve some technical difficulties and limitations due to accessibility issues and Government restrictions in China.
This guide provides an overview of learning technologies and their availability in China.
Please be aware that this information is subject to change, so please check back for the latest information. Testing has shown variations between regions and individuals in China in terms of what students may be able to access due to the firewall and low internet speeds. Please be prepared for individual students not being able to access technologies, check-in with affected students regularly, and refer to the back-up plans for both Canvas and UTSOnline for what to do if students cannot access a technology.
As of 24 August 2020, our general recommendations for teaching staff:
- UTSOnline and Canvas can be used for content delivery (basic features only)
- Kaltura or Microsoft Stream can be used for multimedia content delivery
- Microsoft Teams is the most reliable way to allow students to interact and communicate
- Microsoft OneDrive is the most reliable way to store and share large files
Note: Canvas or UTSOnline are the only systems that should house student grades and assessment (it is not advised to conduct assessment or store grades in any Microsoft tool)
Students can use an optional VPN service that may provide easier access to UTS learning platforms including Canvas, UTSOnline, EdStem, Echo 360, Kaltura, Turnitin, and UTS student administration tools. It is always recommended to use the UTS supported tools listed on this page.
| Tool |
Available in China? |
Impacted by internet speeds? |
Recommendations |
| Blackboard/UTSOnline |
Yes |
Yes |
Only use basic features. Find out more in the tool recommendations section. |
| Blackboard/UTSOnline Quizzes |
Yes |
Yes |
Display questions one at a time and don’t embed unavailable content like YouTube videos. |
| Canvas |
Yes |
Yes |
Only use basic features. Find out more in the tool recommendations section. |
| Canvas Quizzes |
Yes |
Yes |
Display questions one at a time and don’t embed unavailable content like YouTube videos. |
| Dropbox |
No |
– |
Use Microsoft OneDrive for large files. |
| Echo360 |
TBC |
– |
– |
| EdStem |
Yes |
No |
– |
| Facebook |
No |
– |
Use Microsoft Teams for student interaction. |
| Flickr |
No |
– |
– |
| Google aps and services |
No |
– |
Use Microsoft applications. |
| H5P interactive tools in Canvas |
Yes |
Yes |
Do not use H5P for summative assessments. |
| Instagram |
No |
– |
– |
| Kaltura |
Yes |
Yes |
Find out more in the tool recommendations section. |
| Library readings (through the DRR) |
Yes |
No |
Provide direct links to required readings only. |
| Microsoft applications |
Yes |
Yes |
Students should use the app not browser versions. Find out more about Office 356, OneDrive, Stream and Teams in the tool recommendations section.. |
| Pinterest |
No |
– |
– |
| Review |
TBC |
– |
– |
| Slack |
No |
– |
Use Microsoft Teams for student interaction. |
| SPARKPlus |
TBC |
– |
– |
| SoundCloud |
No |
– |
– |
| Turnitin |
Yes |
Yes |
Students might have trouble uploading large files, so they might need to send them to you via email. |
| Twitter |
No |
– |
– |
| Vimeo |
No |
– |
Upload your videos to Kaltura. If it’s a third party video, consider moving it to later in the session. |
| Wikipedia |
No |
– |
– |
| YouTube |
No |
– |
Upload your videos to Kaltura. If it’s a third party video, consider moving it to later in the session. |
| Zoom |
Yes |
Yes |
Find out more in the tool recommendations section. |
Blackboard/UTSOnline
Only use content that is hosted in Blackboard or has been embedded from platforms that have been confirmed to work in China.
If you are unsure whether you should be teaching off-shore students in your existing Canvas or UTSOnline subject site, or a separate version, please contact the LX.lab.
Use discussion boards in Blackboard or MS Teams for interactive communications.
Minimize the complexity and quantity of content where possible, including:
- Remove non-essential content
- Compress images in pages and Word documents where practical
Compress PDF files (including image compression)
Canvas
Canvas is available, although students may experience poor performance when accessing large files and/or specific Canvas features. Only use content that has been uploaded directly to Canvas or has been embedded from platforms that have been confirmed to work in China.
If you are unsure whether you should be teaching off-shore students in your existing Canvas or UTSOnline subject site, or a separate version, please contact the LX.lab.
You may use the following interactive communication tools in Canvas:
- Canvas discussions
- Comments box
- Social polling
We recommend using Microsoft Teams as well as Canvas for interactive communications.
Minimize the complexity and quantity of content where possible, including:
- Remove non-essential content
- Compress images in pages and Word documents where practical
Compress PDF files (including image compression)
Kaltura
Kaltura can be used to upload videos in Canvas and Blackboard (UTSOnline).
Note that some students may still experience issues with Kaltura – we recommend providing additional download links under each Kaltura video. Upload video files to the LMS to ensure they are downloadable. If you are uploading videos to Canvas sites, you’ll need to request the storage limit to be increased; get assistance with this via ServiceConnect.
Do not use the YouTube feature in Kaltura as this is blocked in China.
Video specifications
Record video in MP4 file format at 720p video resolution (a.k.a. 1280×720) to reduce the video file size and improve streaming performance. Selecting a frame rate of 25 FPS and choosing a H.264 Codec will also improve performance, if the option exists. Accompanying sound should be recorded in Stereo at a 48kHz sample rate.
Audio files should be recorded at a 44.1kHz sample rate and should be uploaded in MP3 file format. A Constant Bit Rate (CBR) should be selected. Mono audio files can be recorded at 64 or 128 kbps CBR. Stereo audio can be recorded at 128 kbps or 192 kbps CBR.
Contact the LX.lab Media Team via ServiceConnect for help recording videos or compressing videos.
Downloadable alternatives
Allow video and sound file download alternatives where copyright and privacy law allow. The ability to download files is important for students whose internet connection not capable of streaming content at an acceptable quality.
Accessibility
Enable automated closed captions to help make videos accessible.
Microsoft Office 365
All Microsoft productivity suite applications are available in China. Students should use the native Microsoft apps for their device where possible to improve performance, especially when watching video, making video calls or attending online meetings.
All Microsoft Office Apps now accommodate collaborative technologies. Students can collaborate on documents, OneNote files and share materials via OneDrive.
Microsoft OneDrive
We recommend using Microsoft OneDrive to store and share files if they are too large to email to students (anything over 20MB).
There are different configuration options when sharing files in OneDrive. For this purpose, we recommend either of the following options:
- People in UTS with the link and share via email
- Manually add all names of students in the email field
Your browser should automatically copy the shareable link for you once clicking on the “Copy Link” button. A new window will pop up where the link appears. Feel free to triple check by copying the link in this area here too. Once you have the link, email to affected students via Outlook.
Microsoft Stream
Kaltura is the supported video streaming solution at UTS. However, as Microsoft platforms are working as expected in Mainland China it is also possible to use Microsoft Stream to deliver video content. Considerations include:
- Microsoft Stream videos are only available to UTS staff and students. This means introductory videos for commencing students will not be accessible.
- Stream is not integrated with either Blackboard (UTSOnline) or Canvas. Staff need to upload videos to Stream, copy the embed code sharing option and paste it into the content HTML editor. Staff who use Teams with their students may wish to add Stream videos to their Teams site.
- Students can use Stream but there are no settings to limit access to the cohort only. This may cause problems.
Where possible, students should access content using the Stream or Teams app for their device as these perform better than the web versions. The Stream app also allows videos to be downloaded and watched offline.
Microsoft provide instructions on how to get started with MS Stream and how to add Stream videos to Teams.
Microsoft Teams
Use Microsoft Teams for ongoing conversations or weekly updates.
Teams may also be used for one-to-one chat, audio/video calls and group meetings.
Students should use the native Teams app for their device to ensure the best experience – especially when making calls, attending meetings and watching videos.
External apps and connectors added to Teams may not work in China. LX.lab recommends the following:
- Do not use channel connectors unless provided by Microsoft 2nd party connectors.
- Do not add any apps. Again, MS 2nd party apps are reliable. 3rd party apps using Azure cloud should work but without certainty. 3rd party apps using either Amazon or Google Clouds will most likely not work.
Do not rely on non-Microsoft apps or connectors integrated into Teams, as access to these may be blocked without notice.
Zoom
We recommend using Zoom (through the Australian AARNET network) for video conferencing, one to one sessions or online tutorials. It is important to consider the implications of technologies being blocked in China without notice. As a result, please do not make the use of Zoom integral to your subject learning design. The failsafe/back up option for Zoom is video conferencing in MS Teams. Please do not use this option unless there is no other choice, as there may be latency issues, meaning broken and distorted video and audio.
AARNET advises that users in China need to use version 4.5.4 or higher of the Zoom client and will need to confirm a phone number the first time they use Zoom.
Important!
Please remember the following should not be used for learning and teaching purposes, as they cannot be accessed in China
- YouTube
- Facebook
- Google apps & services
- Slack
- Twitter
- Vimeo
- Wikipedia
If your students cannot access Canvas, you can export course content as a zip file and send it via email. If the zipped file is under 20MB you will be able to send it as an attachment. If it is over the email attachment limit, you can save the files to OneDrive and share the link to students.
Technical considerations
- The Canvas course will be an offline version meaning they won’t be able to interact with course content or submit assignments.
- Kaltura videos will not work when you export Canvas course content, so upload your video files directly to Canvas
- Try to limit file sizes to make it easier for students to download, so avoid using large videos and high-res image
How to export course content
- Navigate to Modules in your Canvas course
- Select “Export Course Content”
- Wait for the file to export
- Save the zipped file to your desktop
- Email to students as an attachment (under 20MB) or as a OneDrive link
Useful tip
As the exported Canvas course content will be an offline file, the student’s copy won’t refresh if you make any changes. To avoid confusion and needing to send multiple copies we recommend exporting a module or a week at a time. This can be done by publishing what you want to send and then export.
Unfortunately, there are no options to export and zip course content from within UTSOnline directly. The approach is to aggregate your content and instructions into a folder on your computer, zip it and email it to your students via an email attachment if it is under 20MB. If it is over the email attachment limit, you can save the files to OneDrive and share the link to students.
Note: Please check with your students that they are able to access OneDrive. If not, you might need to send multiple emails with your files to students.
