Frequently asked questions

What is Clipbank?

Clipbank is a cross-curricular digital library of the very best educational television clips, selected from over 800 hours of Channel 4 award-winning programmes. It is accessed using your internet browser.

What subjects does it cover?

Clipbank currently covers the following ten subjects:

Business | Citizenship/PSHE | Design & Technology | French | Geography | German | History | Maths | Science | Spanish |

There are plans to introduce more subjects, so please keep checking with your local representative or visiting this Clipbank website.

What would I use Clipbank for?

  • Transform your lesson plans by creating including dynamic, video-rich teaching resources
  • Motivate students with videos that bring concepts to life and motivate students
  • Present key learning objectives and strengthen your students' understanding of a topic
  • Incorporate ICT skills in other curriculum areas
  • Students can add video evidence to their own projects and modular pieces of work

Can I use the clips on a whiteboard?

The video clips are ideal for whiteboard use. The clips are of high quality; therefore no clarity will be lost when using a full screen display. Clipbank is also compatible with the software tools provided with an interactive whiteboard and you can use these tools to create lots of different learning resources.

Will you be producing Clipbank for other subjects?

Yes! We are currently working on Clipbank libraries for two further subjects and hope to confirm these in the near future.

What sort of quality can I expect from the clip?

All the clips are available in a high, television-quality MPEG1 format which is ideal for classroom presentations, but can also work on individual computers.

How can I use the clips to make my own teaching resources?

The clips are very adaptable. You can link to them in presentations using applications such as PowerPoint, or use them as part of your lesson plans. Simply adopt, adapt and create – it's up to you how you choose to use Clipbank!

How easy will it be to fit Clipbank into our existing lessons?

Clipbank is very easy to incorporate into your lessons and will soon become an indispensable classroom tool! All you need to remember is ... adopt, adapt and create.

And, as part of your subscription, you receive three annual training sessions. Our interactive sessions equip teachers with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively integrate Clipbank into curriculum planning and delivery.

Will there be more functionality added to extend Clipbank's value?

Yes! Below is a summary of some of the tools currently available with the browser based Clipbank:

1. Video player

Play; Pause; Fast-forward; Rewind; Clip duration display; Clip position display (numerical time); Clip position display (graphical); Clip position display (graphical) dragable between start and end time; playable in full screen and in an embedded mode that shows the video controls; user able to toggle between full screen and embedded with the use of the space bar; embedded mode to have meta data displayed alongside the video playback.

2. Search

Clipbank Key Words – search will be extended to include Description and Context; users will be able to select which or all of the subject libraries to search through; search results will be sorted in order of Keyword, Description data and Context data.

3. Browse

The browse functionality will work in a similar way to the existing website, enabling the user to browse the various topic and library specific division in content.

4. Save video

The save video function allows users to save a video on to their network or computer, allowing them to be incorporated into applications or work, and also adapt or utilise the video in other creative ways.

These tools will be extended over time and this will be communicated to you in the weekly newsletter.

What if I don't have a whiteboard?

No problem, you can use Clipbank with a digital projector and white wall, so your students can still benefit from the visual explanations of complex learning objectives. Of course, it can also be used in a computer suite setting. Teachers can set up pathways through the clips for students or, as it is a safe resource, students can use independently as a research tool.

What does the Clipbank licence allow me to do with the clips?

The clips / resources can only be used by the purchasing establishment in the context of teaching and learning. Click here to download the full terms and conditions.

What will Clipbank cost?

Clipbank is sold on a “whole school” basis as a subscription that includes all content libraries, technology, installation, and training. Please contact us for a quote specific to your school.

How can Clipbank be used in ICT teaching?

Lesson plans

The service includes ICT Lesson plans that allow students to develop their understanding of Internet safety and how to communicate online as well as their analysis of the reliability and usefulness of information. Lesson plans across other subjects provide routes into Internet research and guidelines on how to critically assess information found online.

Application of ICT

A range of Geography, History, MFL, Science, DT, Business, and News Bites clips show the development of technology, its use in daily life and in a business or research context.

ICT skills

Clips could be used as a basis for students analysing and interpreting information and the search functionality used to practise using and refining search methods. All clips can be downloaded, and all text copied and pasted, so that they can be incorporated into students' own presentations or clips that combine text, sound and image.

How can Clipbank be used in English teaching?

Lesson plans

The service includes English lesson plans that allow analysis of the language used in different media and genre. Lesson plans across other subjects include a range of written and speaking and listening activities that encourage appropriate use of language.

Application of English

Clips from across different subject areas are useful for providing examples of the use of language to inform, persuade or argue that range from business clips showing deal negotiations to clips showing historic speeches of Churchill, Kennedy and Malcolm X.

News Bites

News Bites clips provide topical subject matter for discussion and debate as well as examples of the language used in news reports. Students can use the News Bites Learning path to practise writing newspaper articles in different styles based on the weekly News Bites stories.

How can Clipbank be used for post 16 learning?

Subject content

The History, Geography and Science libraries include a range of archive and documentary material covering several topics that feature in further and higher education courses. Many of the MFL clips are targeted at 14-19 year olds and could be used for adult learning. Business and D&T clips feature case study examples that are useful for a range of higher and further education courses including vocational courses and adult learning.

How will Clipbank help meet the new secondary curriculum aims?

Clipbank is well placed to meet the curriculum aims of the QCA's new secondary curriculum: to enable all young people to become...

Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve:

The range and richness of the content will allow you to take an innovative and exciting approach to the new flexibility allowed by the programmes of study. This will create enjoyable and successful learning experiences.

Confident individuals who are able to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives:

The range of teaching and learning approaches allowed by the use of video clips, exemplified in the Lesson plans and Learning paths, are ideal for the development of the attitudes and personal, learning and thinking skills that equip young people to live fulfilled lives.

Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society:

The relevance and topicality of clips and News Bites embeds students' learning in their local, national and global communities. The cross-curricular approach of Clipbank makes it already ideal for addressing the whole curriculum dimensions that address these aims.

When I load Clipbank I get a blank page or bits of the content are missing on the screen.

Check which version of Flash Player is running on your computer using our Software check. If prompted, follow the link to upgrade Flash and install the latest version.

Do I need any additional software / plugins to run Clipbank?

We recommend running the latest versions of Flash Player and Windows Media Player for Windows and Flash Player and QuickTime for Mac OSX.

Why don't the videos play?

  • First check you are running an up-to-date version of Windows Media Player using our Software check.
  • Reset the file associations by opening Windows Media Player and selecting Tools – Options – File Types and either tick or re-tick the Movie File (mpeg) option and click apply.
  • Try turning down the video acceleration by opening Windows Media Player and selecting Tools – Options – Performance. Slide the video acceleration bar down to half way and click Apply.

The videos play but are jerky and poor quality.

  • First check you are running an up to date version of Windows Media Player using our Software check.
  • If running Clipbank from a cache, check that the clients have the proxy exceptions set. Do this by opening Internet Explorer and selecting Tools – Internet Options – Connections – LAN Settings and then clicking on the advanced button. In the exceptions box type in the IP address of the cache and the hostname eg. Cachepilot separated by ; (semi-colon).

Why can I view the videos on my PC / Laptop but get a blank screen when trying to play them on an Interactive Whiteboard?

This is usually a limitation of the hardware. To get around this start the video playing and then right click on the video and select options. Move the Video Acceleration slider bar down to half way and click apply. Re-open the video and it should now play on both PC and Whiteboard.