As a course author, you have the in-built option to record or upload a video, but what about audio? In this article, we'll look at a few really simple options for embedding audio in your course.
For all of these options, remember to add a transcript so that learners who can't or don't want to hear the audio, can still access the information. This might not take you as long as you'd think! See Tools to help you create your transcript for tips.
Option 1: Upload to a hosting space and use Embed Webpage
You can upload your audio file to your website or cloud storage (e.g. Google drive) and then use our Embed Webpage option to embed it in your content.
Here are some specific instructions for doing this using Google drive.
Upload your audio file to your google drive.
Then select Share and set it up so that Anyone with the link is a Viewer.
Copy the link.
Head to the page in your content, select the + icon, choose Embed, then Webpage.
Paste your link, but change "view" to "preview" (see image below).
Change the Height to 100 px (feel free to adjust this to suit, but 100 px worked well for us).
Save to see your audio file embedded in the page.
Option 2: Create a video, narrated presentation or screencast instead
Our preferred option is that you give learners something to look at as well (not the text that you read aloud please). So if you're wanting audio to explain or present something, use images or a presentation to accompany your audio explanation.
Technological solutions that will let you do this are:
Openshot video editor a free and simple to use video editor where you can upload your audio, add images, text, effect and animations to create a video.
iMovie a simple to use video editor for mac users (with all similar features to above)
Screencastify a free and simple to use chrome extension that allows you to record your screen.
Loom a free and simple to use chrome extension, desktop (windows or mac) or mobile (android or ios) app.
Once you have your screen recording, you'll be able to upload it as a video.
Option 3: Convert the audio file to an mp4 and upload as a video
If you've already got audio files, maybe you don't want to record the audio, but just want to be able to embed it. Our video uploader only accepts video files, but there are many free sites that will let you upload an mp3 audio file and an image and it will convert it to an mp4. Try FileConverto's mp3 to video converter.
Once you have your converted file, simply upload that as a video in iQualify.
Option 4: Turn off your webcam
If option one won't work for you, follow the usual method to upload a video, but simply turn off your webcam (or slide the cover over it) and record your audio, there will just be a black screen.
For instructions on turning off your webcam see: How to Turn Off Webcam in Windows 10 or Control access to your camera on Mac.
You can add a cover photo for the "video" but it will disappear once the learner hits play.
Summary
There are a range of options for you to embed audio by using the Embed Webpage option or using our video uploader in iQualify. Our recommendation is that you include a few changing slides with your audio, but sometimes you won't have the time available to re-record, so you might just want to
Whichever you option you go for, remember to add that transcript.