Check Your Connection Speed. A high-speed Internet connection, such as cable modem or DSL, is recommended for watching streaming video. Streaming video may be viewed over a 56k modem connection, but the video quality will be noticeably lower and the window size during playback will generally be smaller. This often reduces the watchability of the content. To determine your bandwidth speed visit one of the web sites below:

Speakeasy Speed Test - Choose Dallas, TX Location (Recommended)

Austin Road Runner Internet Speed Test

ACC does not support streaming media produced by students. However, students who produce streaming video may upload it to YouTube.

ACC Radio Television Film Department

The video(s) that accompany a text book are copyrighted unless otherwise noted. Therefore, a formal letter must be sent to the publisher to request to stream the videos. The publisher will mail a letter back with an approval or denial of your request. If an approval letter is provided, then you may stream the video content.

To add the link into your Blackboard course follow the steps below:

1. Login to your Blackboard course.
2. Choose a section in your course where you want the video to be located.
3. Choose "Edit View" in the upper right hand corner.
4. Select "External Link" and enter the following information:
   
   Name: Title of Your Video
   URL: http://irtflash.austincc.edu/cflvplayer/index.html?
   Note: Be sure to replace the example URL with the web link that was sent to you.
   You should have received a web link from the Streaming Server Administrator.
   

Click Submit. You're done.

The streaming server administrator will send you a link to your streaming video file. Create a hyperlink to the streaming video file. The following is sample html code to link to your webpage:

<a href=”url send by the streaming server administrator”>Title of Video</a>

Video files can be very large. You would spend many minutes or even hours waiting for them to be downloaded to your computer if they weren't streamed. Streaming media technology allows you to see or hear the content in just a few seconds, instead of having to wait for it. Your only wait is a few seconds for a "buffer" to be built up that helps avoid interruptions caused by Internet traffic problems.

There are some potential problems, but we'll tell you how to avoid or minimize them.

• Traffic jams. Streaming requires an Internet connection that's free of bottlenecks or "traffic jams." But the Internet isn't a direct pipeline from the source to you. Streamed content passes through many other computers on its way to your computer via your ISP. If any one of them is carrying too much other traffic, the streamed content may be interrupted and pause. Streamed content is "buffered" to help avoid this, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Usually the delay only lasts a few seconds, and the audio picks up where it stopped. Video is more sensitive to such interruptions.
• A slow computer. Even with a fast computer, if you have too many applications open, it could slow down your media streaming. If you notice things are sluggish, close all unnecessary applications and windows running on your computer. Just keep your Web browser and your media player open. (If you're just listening or watching, you can even close your browser.) In any case, speedy computers are better.

Contact an Instructional Design Specialist at your campus.