Introduction
Avalon is an online service that provides round-the-clock access to streaming audio and video content. This content includes course reserve materials, library-owned items, and locally created content from campus departments. Most video content formerly hosted by BGSU's Digital Video Streaming Service (DVSS) can be found here, as well as streaming audio content previously housed in Variations.
Publicly available content can be accessed via the search bar and browsing options to the left. BGSU users will need to sign in to access content that is restricted to specific classes or the campus community.
Access Avalon here: https://avalon.bgsu.edu/
Make Avalon Content Available to Classes
In order to make Avalon content available to your students, you'll need to get in touch with library staff and let us know the full course code/s for your classes as displayed in Canvas settings. In most cases, the course code consists of the abbreviated subject name, the class number, and the section number, (e.g. ENG 6320 501W) but some contain other information (e.g. 2238 ENG 3010 1001/ENG 3010H 1001 CS). To make sure you have the full course code, log in to Canvas then select the Settings option at the bottom of the list of options on the left. The course code will be listed on the right.
Email Mat Sweet at sweetm@bgsu.edu, or the generic Avalon email address avalon@bgsu.edu with your course code/s and information about the videos you'd like to make available to your students, then follow the instructions below to set up Avalon in Canvas.
1. On the Home screen in Canvas, in the main navigation panel on the left below the Home heading, select the Assignments option.
2. The Assignments page will open. To create a new assignment, select the Assignment button at the top of the page, on the right.
3. A new window will open. Choose a name and enter it in the Assignment Name field. This is a requirement but it doesn’t matter what the name is. The name will be displayed to students and it will link them to all the Avalon material you’ve assigned to them, so “Avalon Videos” might be a good choice for a name.
4. In the Submission Type section, select External Tool from the dropdown menu.
5. In the field labelled “Enter or find an External Tool URL”, click the Find button. A new window will open, with the heading Configure External Tool and a list of options. Select Avalon from the list, then click the Select button.
6. In the Submission Type section, make sure that the checkbox “Load This Tool In A New Tab” is checked.
7. Click the Save and Publish button at the bottom of the page to finish. Note: the assignment won’t be visible to students unless the assignment is published.
8. The assignment will now be active. When students select Assignments from the navigation panel on the left in Canvas, they'll see the title you've chosen, with a link beneath it. Clicking the link will take them to a Canvas page which says "This tool needs to be loaded in a new browser window", followed by a button labelled "Load [name of assignment] in a new window." Clicking the button will take them directly to a page in Avalon where all the content assigned for that class will be listed.
9. When library staff have set up Avalon access at their end, you can use the Student View button in Canvas at the top of the page on the right, then navigate to the assignment to make sure your assigned videos are all showing.
If you have any problems or questions, please email Mat Sweet at sweetm@bgsu.edu, or use the generic Avalon email address avalon@bgsu.edu.