Use YuJa to Create Video Discussions

Last updated on April 2, 2026

Holding discussions in an online course can have a very different feeling than 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 with other people in a physical environment.

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 how they should use it (this Canvas Spotlight describes how to use YuJa).
• For video discussions that offers 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

Create a Discussion Board in Canvas

View the CTLD’s “Create a Discussion in Canvas” tutorial for guidance on how to create a discussion board.

Integrate YuJa

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

See our tutorial, Use YuJa to Create and Upload Videos, for information on how to install and use YuJa.

1. Log in to your Canvas Account.
2. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
3. Click Discussions from the left-hand course navigation menu.
4. Click the title of the discussion to open it.
5. Click Reply to add a post to the discussion board.
6. Click the YuJa Icon (rainbow spiral logo) from 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.
7. 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.
8. Click Launch YuJa Software Capture.
   • You may need to download YuJa if this is your first time using it. Contact ITS if you need support with this step.
9. Type the title of your recording in the Title box if you would like (you can do this after recording as well).
10. Type the Title of your recording in the Name box, if you would like (you can do this after recording as well).
11. Select a folder location to put your video by clicking the Folder Icon at the top of the pop-up window.
    • Note: If no location is selected, or this button is not used, the recording will be placed in your default content collection within YuJa.
12. Click the arrow next to Video to change your video settings.
    • Click the toggle next to Video Source to turn on or off your video.
    • Click the drop-down menu under Video Source to change the video camera source.
13. Click the arrow next to Audio.
    • Click the toggle next to Mic Source to turn on or off your microphone/audio.
    • Click the drop-down menu under Mic Source to change the microphone source.
14. Click the arrow next to Screen to adjust screen sharing settings.
    • Click the toggle next to Screen Source to turn off or on screen sharing.
    • Click Display Settings to change the window or screen you are sharing.
      • Entire Screen: Click the drop-down menu to change to a different screen/monitor to share.
      • Application: Select the image of the window you wish to share.
    • Click Select.
15. Click Start in the bottom right corner.
    • Note: There will be a three second countdown before your recording will begin. As you are recording, you will see controls in the bottom right corner of your screen. It will give you the option to open the YuJa Software Station in full preview mode (click the YuJa logo), stop, or pause your recording.
16. Give your presentation (the software is recording).
17. Click the stop button when you are done recording . 
18. Click Save or Delete your capture from the pop-up window.
    • Note: After you save the recording, YuJa will process it. This may take several minutes, depending on the size of the recording.
19. Return to the Canvas Discussion page. The YuJa window should still be open.
20. Click the video just recorded.
    • Note that it may take time for the video to process and be available. 
21. Enter any text you want to add to the discussion.
22. Click Post reply.