--- title: "Fast-Forward Prevention Explained" description: "This article explains how **video seeking behavior** works in the Video Lesson Activity, including **per-activity controls**, **global admin overrides**, and how seeking interacts with **watch percentage and completion rules**. ### What is seeking behavior? **Seeking behavior** controls whether **students** can…" url: "https://www.mooplugins.com/docs/video-lesson-activity/core-concepts/fast-forward-prevention-explained/" updated: "2026-03-09" category: Video Lesson Activity / Core Concepts --- # Fast-Forward Prevention Explained This article explains how **video seeking behavior** works in the Video Lesson Activity, including **per-activity controls**, **global admin overrides**, and how seeking interacts with **watch percentage and completion rules**. ### What is seeking behavior? **Seeking behavior** controls whether **students** can move forward or backward in a video using the timeline (scrubbing). By default, most video players allow free seeking. The Video Lesson Activity allows you to **restrict or control this behavior** to ensure videos are watched in the intended sequence. ### Where seeking behavior is configured Seeking behavior can be controlled at **two levels**: - **Per activity** (set by teachers when creating a Video Lesson) - **Globally** (set by administrators in site settings) Global settings can **override activity-level settings**, depending on configuration. ### Seeking behavior options (per activity) These options are available when editing a **Video Lesson activity**. #### Allow seeking **Behavior:** - Students can freely skip forward and backward - Timeline scrubbing is fully enabled **Use this when:** - The video is optional or reference-based - Students are revisiting known material - Skipping content is acceptable #### Disable seeking **Behavior:** - All seeking is disabled - Students must watch the video linearly - Forward and backward scrubbing are blocked **Use this when:** - The video contains mandatory content - Sequential viewing is required - The lesson is compliance- or certification-oriented #### Disable seeking forward, allow rewind **Behavior:** - Students cannot skip ahead - Students can rewind and rewatch earlier parts - Forward scrubbing is blocked **Use this when:** - You want to prevent skipping - Students may need to review previous sections - The video builds progressively ### Global override: Enforce seeking behavior site-wide Administrators can **override activity-level seeking behavior** using the global setting: ![Seeking behavior sitewide admin setting](https://s3media.mooplugins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/09125429/Video-Lesson-Settings-Seeking-Behaviour.png) Available options: - Do not override (use activity setting) - Allow seek - Disable seek - Disable seeking forward, allow rewind #### How this works - If set to **Do not override**, each activity uses its own setting - Any other option **forces the selected behavior on all Video Lesson activities** - Teachers cannot override this at the activity level This is useful when a site needs **consistent enforcement** across all courses. ### Automatic seek disabling based on completion percentage The plugin includes a **smart enforcement mechanism** tied to video completion. #### Completion threshold to force disable seek When this global setting is configured: - If a Video Lesson’s **required watch percentage** meets or exceeds the threshold - Seeking is **automatically disabled**, even if allowed in the activity Example: - Global threshold: **70%** - Activity requires **85% watch** - Result: Seeking is automatically disabled for that activity To disable this behavior entirely, set the threshold to **0%**. This ensures students cannot skip ahead when high completion accuracy is required. ### How seeking behavior affects watch percentage Seeking behavior directly impacts how **watch percentage** is accumulated: - Skipping forward does **not** increase watch percentage - Rewatching previously viewed sections does not inflate progress - Watch percentage increases only through **actual playback** Disabling forward seeking ensures students cannot bypass required content to reach completion. ### Disable playback speed control (global override) Administrators can enable a global option to: ![Admin sitewide disable playback speed](https://s3media.mooplugins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/09125810/Video-Lesson-Settings-Disable-Playback-Speed.png) When enabled: - Playback speed options (1.25×, 1.5×, etc.) are removed - This applies **site-wide**, regardless of activity settings **Recommended for:** - Compliance or regulatory training - Timed instructional content - Scenarios where pacing matters ### Disable Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode (global override) Administrators can also disable Picture-in-Picture globally. When enabled: - Students cannot pop the video into a floating window - Videos must be watched within the activity page This helps: - Reduce distractions - Keep students focused on the activity - Maintain context for structured lessons ### Role-based enforcement (students only) By default: - Video progress and enforcement apply **only to the Student role** - Teachers, managers, and admins are excluded This prevents: - Accidental completion during testing - Progress pollution by non-student roles ### Recommended configurations #### Compliance / certification training - Global seek override: **Disable seek** - Completion threshold to force disable seek: **70% or higher** - Disable playback speed control: **Enabled** - Disable Picture-in-Picture: **Enabled** - Completion rule: **Require watch percentage** #### Structured learning (guided but flexible) - Global seek override: **Do not override** - Activity seek setting: **Disable seeking forward, allow rewind** - Completion threshold enforcement: Optional #### Optional or reference videos - Global seek override: **Do not override** - Activity seek setting: **Allow seeking** - Completion enforcement: Optional ### Important notes - Global settings apply to **new activities by default** - Some global options **force behavior site-wide** - External video sources may have provider-level limitations - Enforcement happens at the **video player level**, not Moodle core ### Summary Video seeking behavior in the Video Lesson Activity is controlled through a **combination of activity settings, global admin rules, and completion logic**. This layered approach allows you to: - Give teachers flexibility where appropriate - Enforce consistency where required - Ensure students watch videos as intended