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:
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:
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
