README

Video-based Interactive Didactics & Observation for Teaching and Coaching

VIDOTEACH is an innovative open-source tool for video-based analysis, commenting, and reflection on teaching and learning processes. It is designed to support teacher education, instructional coaching, and higher education didactics through time-coded annotations and structured peer feedback.

Note on Name Change

VIDOTEACH is the continued and consolidated development of two previous tools:
smallPART (Small-scale Process Analysis & Reflection Tool) and Live Feedback.
Both tools were developed in academic contexts and have now been unified under the new name VIDOTEACH to reflect their expanded functionality and broader educational applications.

Features

Interactive video analysis with timestamped markers and comments
Time-coded peer feedback for teaching videos and presentations
Synchronous and asynchronous usage (e.g., in internships, seminars, professional training)
Easy LMS integration via LTI 1.1 & 1.3
Full LTI 1.3 compliance including Deep Linking & Names/Roles Provisioning
Automatic course and user registration via LTI or OpenID Connect
GDPR-compliant data storage via EGroupware hosting
Integration with external user directories (e.g., LDAP, Active Directory, UCS, Shibboleth, OpenID Connect)
Shibboleth / SAML authentication integration
Server-side ACL enforcement for all user actions
Hardened Content Security Policy (no inline JavaScript)
Flexible video source management using WebDAV/EGroupware VFS or external URLs
Partial integration with external video repositories (e.g., Opencast, YouTube)
REST API interface (for integration with external systems and services)

Project Partners (Didactic and Conceptual Development)

Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University (RPTU), Kaiserslautern-Landau
- Prof. Dr. Leo van Waveren
University of Education Freiburg
- Prof. Dr. Christoph Thyssen (formerly RPTU)
EGroupware GmbH
- Arash Tolou, M.A. (formerly RPTU)
Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
- until 31 December 2020, under the name "Live Feedback Plus"

Technical Roadmap – ✅ Implemented and Planned Features

Interactive video player with time-coded markers and comments
Comment categories and tag-based filtering
Anonymous or user-linked feedback options
Marker types for focused feedback (e.g., "question", "highlight", "critique")
Flexible video source management: upload, link, or stream via WebDAV
Integration with EGroupware user management (ACL, sessions)
Role management (admin, reviewer, participant)
Storage of video files in the EGroupware Virtual File System (VFS)
Basic LTI 1.1 support for LMS integration (e.g., Moodle, OpenOLAT)
Export of feedback data (e.g., CSV, PDF report formats)
Full LTI 1.3 compliance including Deep Linking & Names/Roles Provisioning
Automatic course and user registration via LTI or OpenID Connect
Shibboleth / SAML authentication integration
Hardened Content Security Policy (no inline JavaScript)
Server-side ACL enforcement for all user actions
Integration with external video repositories (e.g., Opencast, YouTube API)
Bi-directional LTI integration: return of feedback to LMS
Comment evaluation and rating features (e.g., helpfulness scores)
Comment threads and reply options
Improved UX/UI with responsive design and accessibility (WCAG 2.1)
Real-time collaboration features (e.g., live marking during video playback)

Security

Server-side permission checks (ACL)
Protection against browser console manipulation (no client-side editing)
Compliant with modern web security standards (e.g., CSP)

Resources

Example Configuration (For smallPART Compatibility)

# smallPART / VIDOTEACH video storage path
location /egroupware/smallpart/Resources/Videos {
    alias /var/lib/egroupware/default/files/smallpart;
}

egroupware / smallpart

Maintainers

Details