Upload and Share Videos in Blackboard using Microsoft Stream

The article helps CCRI faculty use Microsoft Stream for storing and sharing pre-recorded lecture videos with Students in the LMS. By leveraging OneDrive + Stream, and setting proper student view permissions, faculty can ensure secure student access, automatic captioning, and WCAG 2.1 compliance while simplifying Blackboard integration.

How to Upload and share Blackboard videos using Stream

This guide walks CCRI faculty through the process of uploading existing lecture videos into Microsoft Stream (via OneDrive) and sharing them with students in Blackboard. Using this method ensures:

• ✅ All student permissions are handled automatically through the Student_Guests group

• ✅ Videos remain in your OneDrive for portability (future-proof for the LMS transition)

• ✅ WCAG 2.1 compliance with built-in captioning and transcript display

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🔑 Step 1: Create a OneDrive Video Folder for Students

1. 📂 Go to OneDrive and log in with your CCRI email.

2. ➕ Click New > Folder and name it something like Course Videos.

3. 👥 Share this folder with Student_Guests (this ensures all your Blackboard students will have access to any video stored here).

   • Right-click the folder > Share > enter Student_Guests > click Send. --don't worry- this action will not actually send an email to students.

   • Permissions will now automatically apply to all files you upload into this folder.

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📤 Step 2: Upload Your Video

1. ⬆️ Inside your Course Videos folder, click Upload > Files.

2. Select the video file(s) from your computer.

3. ✅ Once uploaded, videos will sync into Stream automatically.

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🧾 Step 3: Open in Stream and Add Captions

1. 🖥️ Open the uploaded video from OneDrive — it will launch in Microsoft Stream.

2. 🏷️ Add a Title and Description.

3. 💬 Go to Video Settings > Captions/Transcripts.

   • 🌍 Select English, toggle on, and click Generate.

   • ⏳ Captions may take a few minutes to appear.

   • ✏️ Edit captions directly in the transcript pane for accuracy.

Optional: Use Stream’s editing tools to trim, add chapters, or set a thumbnail.

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🔗 Step 4: Copy the Share Link

1. Click Share.

2. Ensure the Student_Guests group is listed under permissions.

3. Click Copy Link — this is the link you’ll add to Blackboard.

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📚 Step 5: Add the Video to Blackboard

1. Log in to Blackboard.

2. Navigate to your course > desired content area.

3. ➕ Click Build Content > Web Link.

4. 🏷️ Enter a Title for the video (e.g., Week 3 Lecture).

5. 📎 Paste the Stream share link.

6. 🚫 Do not check the box for "This link is to a Tool Provider."

7. ✅ Submit.

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🧪 Final Check in Blackboard

• Locate the new content item in Blackboard.

• ▶️ Launch it to confirm it opens in a new window.

• 🔓 Students may be prompted to log in, but they can dismiss the prompt and still view the video.

• 📝 The transcript panel will display alongside the video (no separate transcript upload needed).

• 💬 Students can leave comments or answer embedded quizzes, supporting RSI (Regular and Substantive Interaction).

✅ Tips for Success

• 📂 Keep all course videos in your shared OneDrive folder for easy organization.

• 🧪 Always verify captions after uploading.

• 🎯 Use one consistent Blackboard content area (e.g., Lecture Videos) for student clarity.

⚠️ Video Recommendations 

Supported File Types & Size Guidelines
Microsoft supports many common video and audio formats, but for best compatibility, use .mp4 (H.264 video + AAC audio) when uploading videos.

The current limit for a single file upload is 250 GB, subject to your CCRI tenant’s policies.

⚠️ In past versions of Stream or in specific tenant setups, users sometimes encountered a 2 GB limit for uploads. If you run into upload failures for large files, consider compressing or splitting your videos.

Recommended Video Length & Chunking
To improve usability, mitigate upload risk, and streamline editing/captioning, it’s best to keep lecture videos under 5 minutes per clip. For longer lectures, break them into segments (e.g. per topic or per slide group). This “chunked” approach helps avoid upload errors and makes re-recording or caption edits easier.

🤝 Need Help?

📨 Submit a ticket to Online Learning & Technology for help using Microsoft Stream with Blackboard

📨 Submit a ticket to the Help Desk if you do not have access or need support with all CCRI Microsoft apps (including OneDrive, Stream etc.)