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Student Instructions for Uploading Video
Student Instructions for Uploading Video

It takes just a few minutes for students to upload their own videos to analyze in Pivot Interactives

Trevor Register avatar
Written by Trevor Register
Updated over a year ago

Overview

Pivot Interactives isn't the only source of videos: instructors and students can upload their own videos to analyze using our various tools. It takes just a few minutes for students to upload their own videos.

Here's a video showing how easy it is for students to upload videos into Pivot Interactives:

Record Your Video

Making the Ruler:

  1. Make sure to place a scaling object (an object of know size) in the video, with the object the same distance from the camera as the moving object. You'll need it to scale the rulers when you analyze the video.

  2. Make your scaling object something that takes up a large part of the screen. If your scaling object is too small on the screen, this will make it difficult to calibrate the rulers.

Recording Tips:

  1. Record in an area with lots of light. This will reduce the exposure time and reduce motion blur.

  2. Hold camera still; use a tripod, or rest camera on stationary surface.

  3. Point the camera perpendicular to the direction of motion.

Film Size:

  1. The maximum file size is 50 MB. This is about 1 minute of filming on a standard smartphone.

  2. To get a longer film, you will need to collect less data in each frame.

    1. Trim your video to reduce unnecessary time from the film.

    2. Consider compressing your film using a film compressor (like Cloud Convert).

    3. Reduce the film quality - HD isn't typically necessary.

    4. Turn off any other "special effect" filters like sports mode or color filters.

  3. When filming, you do not need to use the "slow motion" feature of your film. You will be able to analyze your film frame-by-frame.

Upload Your Video to Pivot Interactives

Only MOV and MP4 files can be uploaded into Pivot Interactives. Also, video files must be encoded with the H.264 codec. Video from Apple iPhones and Android phones can be directly uploaded into Pivot Interactives. If you are not sure, just upload the video to see if it works. If the video does not display after uploading, try converting it to MP4.

Once you have a good video, upload it to Pivot Interactives.

Upload the video directly from your phone into Pivot Interactives.

  1. Log into your Pivot Interactives account on your phone, and open the activity where you want to upload the video.

  2. Find the Video Upload Component -

  3. Click Choose File.

  4. Select the video from your camera roll.

  5. Verify the record and playback frame rate settings

    1. Most phones record video at 30 frames per second. But slow motion can be 60, 120, or 240, or even 960 fps. Check your phone settings to find the recorded frame rate.

    2. Most phones encode video for playback at 29.97 fps, but some exceptions exist. You can check your phone's settings to verify the frame rate.

  6. Once the film's name appears under the "Select Video" area, click Update to load your film.

Alternative Method: Uploading from your Computer

  1. Share the video on your phone with your computer. Common methods include uploading the film to a cloud source, like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox, or emailing the film to yourself.

  2. From your source, download the film onto your computer.

  3. Log into your Pivot Interactives account on your computer, and open the activity where you want to upload the video.

  4. Find the Video Upload Component.

  5. Click Choose File.

  6. Select the video from your download location.

  7. Verify the record and playback frame rate settings

    1. Most phones record video at 30 frames per second. But slow motion can be 60, 120, or 240, or even 960 fps. Check your phone settings to find the recorded frame rate.

    2. Most phones encode video for playback at 29.97 fps, but some exceptions exist. You can check your phone's settings to verify the frame rate.

  8. Once the film's name appears under the "Select Video" area, click Update to load your film.

Analyzing the Video in Pivot Interactives

Once the video appears, you can use the Pivot Player tools to analyze the video, following your teacher's instructions in the activity.

Video Tools

You have access to the following tools:

From left to right:

Tool

Icon

IRIS Color Tool

Protractor

Grid

Ruler

Stopwatch

Calibration Tool

How to calibrate your ruler/grid:

  1. Drag the arrows on the calibration tool to the ends of the object of known size in the video.

  2. Type in the length of the object of known size in the text box on the calibration tool.

Here's how it looks:

  1. Once you've completed the calibration, you can drag ruler or grid, rotated them, or expand/shrink them as needed. Your calibration settings are auto saved so you can continue work when you log back in.

  2. The stopwatch can be used to measure time in the same way you would in any other Pivot Interactives video. As long at the recorded frame rate and playback frame rate are selected correctly, the stopwatch will give accurate time measurements.

Now you can make measurements of position and time in your video. Your teacher will give you more instructions about what to do next.

Optional: Convert video to MP4 or MOV format

If you have a video that is not MOV or MP4 or is encoded using a different codec, you can use free online conversion tools like Cloud Convert to quickly convert any video file to .mp4 file type. Here's how:

  1. Go to Cloud Convert

  2. Click Select Files
    ​
    ​

  3. Select .mp4, and click Start Conversion.

  4. When the conversion is complete, click Download to download the video.

Note: Pivot Interactives is not the owner or operator of Cloud Convert.

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