Dealing with large files
The individual file upload limit for Mahara is 256MB. Whilst this is perfectly adequate for most text-based documents, it is quite small for videos. One solution to this problem is to upload large video files into eStream which is the University's media streaming service. This is available to all staff and students at the University. It can be accessed using your normal Warwick ID and password from: https://estream.warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window.
eStream converts uploaded media content into MP4 (video files) or MP3 (audio files) that are of a suitable size and format to stream over the web. The software also generates a universal embed code which provides an easy way of embedding media content into online services such as Moodle, Mahara and Sitebuilder.
How to upload a file to eStream
Once you have logged into eStream you will be presented with a screen that looks something like this:
Click on the Create button (the pencil) in the blue bar at the top of the screen and then choose Upload from the dropdown menu that appears.
Click on the grey Upload Video or Audio Files button in the main screen and select the file you want to upload from the dialogue box that appears. You can also drag and drop files from your desktop onto this section of the screen.
If you need to upload a supporting file (such as a PowerPoint presentation) click the Upload Documents button. If you need to add a YouTube video click the Add YouTube Embeds button. For the purposes of this guide we will only be looking at uploading a video or audio file. Ignore the Uploading Photos? option.
You will then be presented with a screen that looks something like this:
If you want to change the file name, remove the tick from the checkbox at the top left of the screen and complete the Title field which will become active. Add a brief description to the Description field and any key words to the Keywords field. You can leave all of the default settings down the right hand side of the dialogue box alone except for the categories option, click on the Select Categories link and make your choice from the drop down menu that appears. Then click on the Confirm button at the bottom of the dialogue box.
You will then be presented with a screen that looks something like this:
If you need to upload more than one video or audio file, click on the Add More button and repeat the process. Otherwise, click on the Start Upload button. Depending on the size of your file, this process can take a while but once it is complete you will see a message on the screen confirming the upload (and you will receive an email message confirming the same).
Click on the link in the confirmation message on the screen to go to the video. Alternatively you can click on the video title from your eStream homepage. Scroll down the page to see the settings for that video and click on the Share button.
You now have two options - Share by Web Link or Share by Embedding. Share by Web Link will allow you to add a clickable link to a block in Mahara (or onto a web page) and Share by embedding will embed the video with player controls into a block in Mahara (or onto a web page). You need to choose Share by Embedding so that you can add the video to an External Media block in Mahara.
Click in the white box on the left hand side of the screen to highlight the embed code that has been generated (the code starts <iframe...) and then right click on a Windows device or control click on a Mac to copy the highlighted code.
Then you need to switch into Mahara and follow the instructions on this page for adding an External Media block to your Mahara portfolio:
Further information about recording and using content with eStream is available here: