Camtasia Instructor Guide

Camtasia is a desktop-capturing software that also supports video editing. This type of software lets you select specific areas of your computer screen for recording and to add audio or other media for creating educational videos, such as lectures and presentations.
Access Immediate You can access Camtasia from your computer as soon as you download and install the Camtasia application.
Cost Yes Free.
Bandwidth Yes (Does not run online.)
Canvas Integration No Since Camtasia runs offline, it does not automatically connect with Canvas. But you can export media from Camtasia and upload it to Canvas, as explained below.
Privacy Yes Does not run online, so privacy is not a concern as long as your device is secure.
Similar UBC-Supported Tools Y Kaltura is also centrally supported for recording and editing videos.

What can I use it for?

You can use Camtasia for recording and editing videos, such as lectures and presentations:

  • Capturing your computer screen and webcam, to simultaneously present slides and your presence, enhancing instructor visibility during lectures
  • Adding audio tracks and motion animations to videos, which can help increase student engagement
  • Encouraging students to create their own recording for activities or assignments, which can promote active learning and creativity
  • Importing and refining videos created with other tools

A note about Camtasia

Currently, Camtasia’s online video quizzes feature is not available for use. This feature grants Camtasia the right to reproduce, distribute, display, and otherwise use your quiz content. As an alternative solution for adding quizzes to your videos, you can upload videos to Kaltura. Kaltura is built into Canvas and lets you create and edit video quizzes alongside its video streaming and storage. Using Kaltura’s video quizzes ensures that your educational content remains engaging and interactive, while safeguarding your rights to your quiz materials.

This tool guide was last reviewed in February 2024 with version 2023.0.1 of Camtasia.

What do I need to use Camtasia?

The Camtasia application

Camtasia is a desktop application, which means you will need to download and install the Camtasia software on your computer. Camtasia is not universally compatible with all operating systems; specifically, it will not work on Windows XP or Linux. Before installing, we recommend reviewing the Camtasia system requirements for details.


Audio/visual equipment

You can record your desktop screen with Camtasia without additional equipment. However, if you plan on recording other videos or audio, you will need a webcam and/or a microphone. We recommend using either an external microphone or headphones with a microphone attached, to ensure good audio quality.

Tips

How do I use Camtasia?

UBC offers free access to Camtasia for faculty, staff, and students. You will first need to download and install the software onto your computer, then open it to start making projects.

Click any accordion bar below for instructions and tips for using Camtasia.

Expand All

Download and install the Camtasia application

  1. Log in to the UBC Software Portal using your UBC CWL (Campus-Wide Login).
    • You may receive a prompt asking if the site can access your UBC CWL information. Click Accept to proceed.
  2. Once you arrive at the software selection page, select Camtasia from the options.
  3. Click Add to Cart.
  4. In the cart pop-up, click Check Out, and continue to the order details page.
  5. Copy the "License Key" code, as you will need it to complete the installation. Once you've copied this code, click Download to be taken to the downloads page.
    • If you want to access the “License Key” code again, you can find it on the “Your Accounts/Orders” page. On the top-right corner of the page, click your name and select Your Accounts/Orders. Locate your order and click View Details to obtain the code.
  6. Click the Download button for your operating system (Windows or Mac).
  7. Once it downloads, open the Camtasia installer and follow the instruction prompts to complete the installation of the application.
  8. After it is installed, open Camtasia and follow the prompts to create a Camtasia (TechSmith) account, which you can do with your UBC email address or another non-identifying email address.
    • Camtasia is not integrated with UBC CWL in any way, even if you sign up with your UBC email. For security, your Camtasia password should not match your UBC CWL.
  9. After creating an account, follow the prompts to return to Camtasia. Click Enter Software Key, enter the "License Key" code that you copied in Step 6 above, then click Unlock Camtasia.

Record a lecture with Camtasia

With Camtasia, you can record a lecture while presenting PowerPoint slides or other content on your screen.

If you are on a Windows system, Camtasia adds a recording feature within PowerPoint, which you may find to be the quickest route for recording a lecture with Camtasia.

If you are using a system other than Windows, or if you are not using PowerPoint for your lecture, you can record directly within Camtasia.

  1. If you have not installed Camtasia, follow the steps for installing the Camtasia application in the accordion section above.
  2. Open PowerPoint with the slides that you want to use, and click the Add-Ins tab.
    • When opening the PowerPoint slides, Camtasia's tutorial on using its PowerPoint recording feature may appear. Feel free to close this and continue with the instructions here.
  3. Click the Record button.
  4. Test your audio and, when you are ready, click Click to begin recording. Present the slides as you talk over them.
  5. When you are done, press the escape key and click the Stop Recording button.
  6. Name the recording and click Save.
  7. Select Produce your recording and click OK.
    • Alternatively, you can select Edit your recording if you wish to make any edits at this point. You can find instructions on how to edit your recording in the next accordion section.
  8. Once Camtasia opens, choose MP4 with Smart Player from the drop-down menu, then click Next.
  9. Name your video file and choose a location to save it to.
    • If you want to preview the video, leave the Play video after production box checked, and it will open a new tab on your web browser. If you want to skip this step, uncheck the box.
  10. Click Finish. A new folder containing your .mp4 file will be saved on your computer, and you can upload this video file to share with students.
  1. If you have not installed Camtasia, follow the steps for installing the Camtasia application in the accordion section above.
  2. Open PowerPoint with your slides or any other application with content that you want to use during the recording. By default, Camtasia will record the whole screen, so it’s easiest if your presentation spans the whole screen too.
  3. Open Camtasia, click the Home tab and select New Recording.
  4. A toolbar will open with four icons representing your screen, webcam, microphone, and system audio. Enable the toggle below each of the items that you would like to record during the presentation. If prompted, adjust your system permissions to allow recording in Camtasia.
  5. Once you are ready, click the red rec button. Present the slides as you talk over them.
  6. When you are done:
    • On Windows, navigate to the recording menu and click the "stop" square button to stop recording.
    • On Mac, right-click the Camtasia icon in the Mac Dock and select Stop Recording.
  7. Your recording will open automatically. If you would like to edit your recording, you can find instructions in the next accordion section.
  8. Once you are happy with the edits, export your recording to a video file you can upload to your course. Click Export and select Local File.
  9. Enter a name for your file, check that the file format is set to either MP4 with Smart Player (Windows) or MP4 (Mac), then click Export.
  10. Once the export finishes and the file downloads to your computer, you can upload this video file to your course to share with students.

Tips

  • You may want to prepare notes or a script ahead of time. You can also use these later to include a transcript with your recording. Recordings are accessible to more students when you provide transcripts.
  • Clap if you make a mistake while recording. The spike in audio that your clap creates will make it easier to locate the section and remove it during editing.
  • You don’t have to record all of your slides at once and can instead make recordings of subsets of your slides. Shorter videos may be easier for students to concentrate on and learn from.
  • Save your Camtasia project file, as well as the exported MP4 file. You can then open the Camtasia project file for future editing and export a new MP4 with any new changes.
  • UBC Studios provides tips on successfully recording lectures. Watch this 3-minute video:

Edit your lecture recording in Camtasia

After recording in Camtasia, you can edit your screen recordings, audio clips, titles, and more. You can also add existing videos and media files into Camtasia’s "Media" or "Library" tabs to help build your video.

In Camtasia, videos are represented on a timeline, moving sequentially from left to right. This timeline, which is found at the bottom of your screen, is where you access the main editing features.

As you build, you can preview your work on the canvas. The canvas is a working area where you can position, resize, and rotate content. Everything that is shown on the canvas is captured in the final video export.

A trim removes time from the beginning or end of a media clip on the timeline:

  1. Click to select a clip on the timeline.
  2. Hover the cursor over the beginning or end of the clip, depending on which part you want to remove from the clip.
  3. Click and drag the edge of the clip in or out to trim.

A cut removes a selected portion of your media clip, which is helpful when you want to remove or move parts of the media on the timeline:

  1. Click and drag the green (left) or red (right) handles on the playhead (the indicator that shows where you are in the timeline) to make a selection. The selected area will be highlighted in blue.
  2. Click the "cut" scissors icon to cut the selected area out. The media on the timeline will shift to remove the selection.
    • Alternatively, you can press Delete on the keyboard to delete the selection. This action will remove the selected area but leave space on the timeline for new media in its place.
  3. To paste the cut selection elsewhere on the timeline, move the playhead to a new location and click the "paste" clipboard icon.

Tips

  • The "Media Bin" in Camtasia always maintains the original version of your media, even as you make edits to media on the timeline. This feature is handy in case you want to go back and use the original. To access the Media Bin, click the "Media" tab on the left side of your screen.
  • To fine-tune your editing, use the zoom slider to zoom in on the timeline for more granular control. If you zoom in too much or want to see your project in full, click the magnifying glass icon to fit your entire project on the timeline again.
  • Trimming and cutting should allow you to do most of the basic editing you will need. If you want to learn more about video editing, explore Camtasia's video editing tutorials.
  • You can split the timeline to separately manage video, audio, images, and captions. Alternatively, you can combine all these elements onto a single timeline. Use whichever approach makes the most sense to you.

Share your Camtasia lecture recordings in Canvas

The most straightforward way to share your video with students is through Canvas and its built-in media storage and streaming service, Kaltura.

Within Canvas, Kaltura lets you share media in two main ways: by embedding it in course materials such as pages, assignments, or discussions through the Rich Content Editor, or by adding it to the Media Gallery course repository. Embedding media offers the advantage of contextual integration with other instructional content. Adding media to the Media Gallery allows centralized access for students, supports transcript sharing, and enables engagement tracking through metrics.

The Rich Content Editor in Canvas is a way to add content that can be styled and arranged around media. You can add media this way to any course for which you are an instructor. We recommend embedding no more than ten media items on a single Canvas page.

  1. Log in to your Canvas course. In an area where you would like to embed your video (e.g., a page, assignment, discussion), click Edit to access the Rich Content Editor.
  2. In the Rich Content Editor, click the Embed Kaltura Media icon (the multicoloured icon).
  3. Click Add New and choose Media Upload.
  4. Click Choose a file to upload and select the video that you would like to embed.
  5. Assign the appropriate copyright permission.
    • With The Permission of The Copyright Holder(s) - Applies if you have created the media, have the permission of the copyright holder, or are using a Creative Commons license
    • The use of the materials falls within the Fair Dealing Exception - Applies when media qualifies under the Fair Dealing Exception
    • The material is in the Public Domain - Applies when the media is in the public domain (i.e., expired copyright or copyright has been waived)
    • Other - Applies for cases outside the above uses that require additional explanation
  6. Click Save and Embed. The video will be uploaded to Kaltura and placed in your content.
  7. Click Save to save your changes.

The Media Gallery is a media repository in Canvas that creates a searchable gallery of media available to everyone in your course. All media can be viewed by students at any time. You can upload media directly to the Media Gallery.

  1. Log in to your Canvas course and click Media Gallery in the Course Navigation. If you don't see this option:
    • Click Settings in the Course Navigation.
    • Click the Navigation tab.
    • Find the "Media Gallery" menu item, click the options menu (the 3 vertical dots), and choose Enable.
    • Save your setting changes.
  2. Click to Authorize Kaltura, if prompted.
  3. Click Add Media.
  4. Click Add New and choose Media Upload.
  5. Click Choose a file to upload and select the video.
  6. Select the appropriate permission from the "Copyright Permissions" drop-down menu.
    • With The Permission of The Copyright Holder(s) - Applies if you have created the media, have the permission of the copyright holder, or are using a Creative Commons license
    • The use of the materials falls within the Fair Dealing Exception - Applies when media qualifies under the Fair Dealing Exception
    • The material is in the Public Domain - Applies when the media is in the public domain (i.e., expired copyright or copyright has been waived)
    • Other - Applies for cases outside the above uses that require additional explanation
  7. Click Save.

Tips

  • Align the timing of your lecture uploads with the regular schedule of your course. This structure can especially help online courses by mirroring students attending a weekly lecture.
  • The Media Gallery in your Canvas course has additional features, including the following: customizable playlists, enhanced media analytics (e.g., number of plays, average time spent on videos), and engagement/contribution reports (i.e., who engaged with what content).
  • If you use “Student View” to test your course in Canvas, you won’t see Kaltura videos in your course content or in the Media Gallery course repository. This absence does not mean the videos are unavailable to students; it is simply a technical quirk of the Canvas "Student View."
  • Once you add videos in Canvas using Kaltura, you'll also be able to add closed captioning and transcripts to Kaltura videos. These captions and transcripts are auto-generated by Kaltura but can be edited to fine-tune what students see.

Where can I get more support with Camtasia?

Technical support

If you have trouble with Camtasia:


Pedagogical support

Learn more


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