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Use YuJa to Create Video Discussions

Last updated on July 17, 2026

Holding discussions in an online course can have a very different feeling from having discussions in a face-to-face classroom. However, online discussions can still help students master content, explore new ideas, and build a sense of community even when they may not be meeting in person

Video discussions are a wonderful strategy that can help simulate the sense of community students may feel when they see other students in a physical classroom. Students record their responses to the prompt and post their recordings to a discussion board. This strategy boosts student-to-student interaction and targets different learning styles, since students will be able to discuss by speaking, listening, and viewing visuals, instead of relying on writing and reading alone.

Best practices

  • Create prompts and instructions that clearly explain what students should discuss.
    • For example, should students refer to resources in the course in their response? How many other students should they respond to?
  • Use open-ended discussion prompts that cannot be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No.”
    • For example, students could make comparisons and connections to their own lives or current events, or they could argue a position and support it with outside research.
  • Explain which tool students should use and provide details instructions on how to use it.
  • For video discussions that offer the ability for time-stamped feedback and peer reviews, use GoReact. See our tutorial, Set Up a GoReact Assignment in Canvas, for more information.

Let’s walk through it together

click to view in fullscreen

Create a Discussion Board in Canvas

  1. Log in to your Canvas Account.
  2. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
  3. Click Modules in the left-hand course navigation menu.
  4. Locate the module to which you would like to add a discussion.
  5. Click the + icon in the top right-hand corner of the module.
  6. Click the drop-down menu that says “Assignment”.
  7. Select Discussion from the list.
  8. Click Create Topic.
  9. Enter a Name for the discussion in the Topic Name text field.
  10. Click Add Item in the bottom right-hand corner.
  11. Click the Name of the discussion at the bottom of the module.
  12. Click the More Options (3 Dots) icon in the top right-hand corner of the discussion.
  13. Click Edit.
  14. Enter a Prompt for the discussion in the large text field.
  15. Enterclear instructions on how to use YuJa to reply to the discussion.
    1. See the section below for steps you can copy and paste.
  16. Select the Settings you would like for the discussion.
    1. For more details on the different discussion settings, view our tutorial, Create a Discussion in Canvas.
  17. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

Reply to Discussion Board Using YuJa

Once a discussion board has been set up, instructors and students can integrate Yuja in their posts and replies using the same steps.

Open YuJa Software Capture

  1. Click Reply to add a post to the discussion board.
  2. Click the YuJa Icon (rainbow spiral logo) in the toolbar at the top of the Rich Content Editor.
    • You may need to click the three dots to the right of the toolbar for the YuJa icon to appear.
  3. Click Create Recording at the top of the pop-up window to record a new video through YuJa.
    • You can also select media already uploaded to YuJa or upload a different media file to YuJa.
  4. Click Launch Software Capture.
    • You may need to download YuJa if this is your first time using it.
      • Click the Download link.
      • This will prompt you to download the YuJa Software Station installation file.
      • Run the Install File.
      • Note: If you are on an MSU Denver ITS-supplied computer, you will need to install the app from the Self Service (Mac) or Company Portal (Windows) app. If you have trouble downloading YuJa on your MSU ITS-Supplied device, please go to the MSU Denver ITS Client Portal.
  5. Click Open YuJa Software Capture from the pop-up that appears.
    • A Window will appear. This is the YuJa Software Capture.

Adjust Recording Settings

  1. Type the title of your recording in the name field at the top left if you would like (you can do this after recording as well).
  2. Click the Folder Icon at the top right of the pop-up window to select a folder location for the video.
    • Note: If no location is selected or this button is not used, the recording will be placed in your default content collection within YuJa.
  3. Click the arrow next to Video to change your video settings.
    • Click the toggle next to Video Source to turn your webcam video off or on.
    • Click the drop-down menu under Video Source to change the video camera source.
  4. Click the arrow next to Audio.
    • Click the toggle next to Mic Source to turn your microphone/audio off or on.
    • Click the drop-down menu under Mic Source to change the microphone source.
      • Note: This may say Audio Source instead.
  5. Click the arrow next to Screen to adjust screen sharing settings.
    • Click the toggle next to Screen Source to turn screen sharing off or on.
    • Click Display Settings to change the window or screen you are sharing.
      1. Select a screenshare option.
        1. Entire Screen: Select this option if you will be switching between windows.
          1. Select Display Option (Single Display, Duo Displays, or Capture Selected Area)
          2. Click the drop-down menu at the bottom of the pop-up to select which screen/monitor to share.
        2. Application: Select this option if you wish to share only a single window.
          1. Select the image of the window you wish to share.
      2. Click Select.

Record Video

  1. Click Start in the bottom right corner.
    1. Note: There will be a three-second countdown before your recording begins. As you are recording, you will see controls in the bottom right corner of your screen.
      • Note: If you don’t see the controls at the bottom of your screen:
        1.  Open the YuJa Software Capture Window.
        2. Click the settings icon at the top right of the window.
        3. Click Configuration.
        4. Select Always show when logged in or Only show when recording from the Recording Toolbar options.
        5. Click Save.
  2. Record your video.
    • Click the pause icon to pause the video.
    • Click the pencil icon to draw on your screen to select a pen style to draw on your screen.
    • Click the up arrow to view your webcam video.
  3. Click the stop button when you are done recording. 
  4. Click Save in the pop-up window to save your video.
    1. Note: After you save the recording, a pop-up will appear showing the video processing status. A green checkmark will appear once processing is complete. This may take several minutes, depending on the size of the recording. 

Post Video to Discussion Board

  1. Return to the Canvas Discussion page. The YuJa Video Insert window should still be open.
  2. Click the video just recorded.
    • Note: The video image may appear as sound waves, meaning the video is still processing. You do not need to wait to insert the video.
  3. Click Insert Content in the bottom right. 
  4. Enter any text you want to add to the discussion.
  5. Click Reply.

Have questions?

Need additional support on this or other teaching and learning topics? Please visit us for drop-in support (10am-3pm, M-F) or try one of our self-help tutorials. 

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