Blackboard Collaborate Overview

B la ck boar d Co l la bor a t e V er s ion 12

Level 1: Overview

North Dakota Universi ty System

Advanced Learning Technologies

Blackboard Collaborate

NDUS Advanced Learning Technologies 2 | P a g e

Copyright © Blackboard Collaborate

09012011All Rights Reserved.

This is a document of Advanced Learning Technologies of the North Dakota University System. North

Dakota University System institutions and its users are allowed to create, develop, copy, and use this

document or derivatives thereof for internal training purposes, pursuant to any related licensing or

copyright protections.

With this document, Blackboard Collaborate retains the right of ownership for any and all derivative

works as outlined in the Bb Materials License Agreement. Complete details of the agreement are

available upon request from Advanced Learning Technologies of the NDUS.


Table of Contents Course Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 5

Blackboard Collaborate Features .............................................................................................................. 5

Technical Requirements for Blackboard Collaborate ............................................................................... 5

Getting Started with Blackboard Collaborate ........................................................................................... 6

Logging Into a Session ........................................................................................................................... 6

Connection Speed ................................................................................................................................. 6

Audio Setup Wizard .............................................................................................................................. 7

Pointers: Audio Setup Wizard ............................................................................................................... 7

The User Profile ..................................................................................................................................... 7

Learning, Help, and Support ................................................................................................................. 8

Orientation to the user interface .................................................................................................................. 9

Blackboard Collaborate – Participant View .......................................................................................... 9

Blackboard Collaborate – Moderator View .......................................................................................... 9

Creating a Session ................................................................................................................................... 11

Content areas and switching between modes ....................................................................................... 11

The Whiteboard ...................................................................................................................................... 12

Whiteboard Tips .................................................................................................................................. 12

Supported File Types ........................................................................................................................... 13

Managing Whiteboard Pages .............................................................................................................. 13

Interactive Whiteboards ..................................................................................................................... 14

Creating polls .......................................................................................................................................... 14

Application sharing ................................................................................................................................. 16

Web tour ................................................................................................................................................. 16

Interactive recordings ............................................................................................................................. 18

Additional Training and Resources ............................................................................................................. 19

Blackboard Collaborate Level 2: Advanced Features .......................................................................... 19

Blackboard Collaborate Level 3: Plan and Publish .............................................................................. 19

Web Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 19

Accessibility Guide .............................................................................................................................. 19


Advanced Learning Technologies website .......................................................................................... 19

Blackboard Collaborate On-Demand Learning Center........................................................................ 19

Workshop Notes ......................................................................................................................................... 20


Course Goals and Objectives In this course participants will:

1. Explore features of the Blackboard Collaborate user interface

2. Implement different methods of communication using Blackboard Collaborate features

3. Manage session content using collaboration tools

4. Generate a session recording

Blackboard Collaborate Features Blackboard Collaborate™ gives you the functionality you need to support a 21st century teaching and

learning environment, such as two-way audio, multi-point video, interactive whiteboard, application and

desktop sharing, rich media, breakout rooms, and session recording. Educators and students can engage

as if they were in a traditional classroom, with as good as, or even better, outcomes.

Technical Requirements for Blackboard Collaborate All clients require:

256 MB of free RAM 20 MB free disk space 28.8 kbps Internet connection Speaker and Microphone, headsets are preferred

Supported operating systems and recommended versions of Java

Windows Macintosh

Windows XP (32 bit with 32 bit JVM)

Windows Vista (32 bit with 32 bit JVM )

Windows Vista (64 bit with 64 bit JVM)

Windows 7 (32 bit with 32 bit JVM)

Windows 7 (64 bit with 64 bit JVM)

Pentium III 1 GHz processor

Supported Client Java Versions

o 1.5

o 1.6 (32 and 64bit)

32bit JVM’s with 32bit Operating System

64bit JVM’s with 64bit Operating System

Java Access Bridge 2.1 (Using Jaws)

OS X 10.5 (32 bit with 32 bit JVM)

OS X 10.5 (64bit with 64bit JVM)

OS X 10.6 (64 bit with 32 bit JVM)

OS X 10.6 ( 64 bit with 64 bit JVM)

G4, G5 or Intel processor

Apple Java 1.5.0_16 (J2SE5 - 32 bit), Apple Java 1.6.0_07 (J2SE6 - 64 bit)


Supported Browsers for use with Blackboard Collaborate

Windows Macintosh

IE 7

IE 8

IE 9

Firefox 3.6+

Google Chrome 3.0.15

Safari 4.x

Firefox 3.5+

Getting Started with Blackboard Collaborate Logging Into a Session

There are several ways to log in to a Blackboard Collaborate session: 1) via integration with a Course

Management System, 2) via the Session Administration System (SAS) or 3) via a direct connection using

a URL to the session. 4) You can also launch a session using Blackboard Collaborate Instant Messaging.

After connecting to the web conferencing session, you will need to do the following:

1. Set your connection speed

2. Run the Audio Setup Wizard

3. Create a Profile

Connection Speed

The first time you join a session, the Select connection speed dialog box appears prompting you to select

the connection speed that you will be using. After you exit the session, the connection speed is

automatically saved with the preferences. IMPORTANT: If you will be changing locations, for example

moving from a LAN connection at work to a Wireless connection at home, you must change your

connection speed to reflect the change in location.


The Connection Speed can also be set from the Preferences menu (PC users – Edit > Preferences and

MAC users – Blackboard Collaborate > Preferences)

Audio Setup Wizard

To verify that your audio is set up correctly, we

recommend that you use the Audio Setup Wizard. The

wizard will allow you to select input and output devices

and test your microphone and speakers and adjust the

levels if necessary. The wizard is located in Blackboard

Collaborate’s Tools menu. Select Audio > Audio Setup Wizard, or can be accessed through the

button located on the Audio & Video Panel. A series of panels will guide you through the process.

Pointers: Audio Setup Wizard

You should run the Audio Setup Wizard each time you join a Blackboard Collaborate session.

If you make changes to your computer which impact audio such as adjusting volume while

viewing other media, it is a good idea to run the Audio Setup Wizard as you join a Blackboard

Collaborate session.

Your first step in resolving audio difficulties is by running the wizard. If this does not resolve the

problem, contact your local campus Help Desk. For afterhours support contact the NDUS Help

Desk at 1-866-457-6387. While Blackboard

Collaborate has echo cancellation, a headset or ear

buds are recommended.

On your computer check that audio is not muted and

volume levels are audible.

The User Profile

The User Profile feature allows users to publish information

about themselves and to view information provided by

others. The user’s profile appears as a pop-up in the

Participants List. To view a user’s profile hover your mouse

over the Participant’s name.

Profiles and LMS

If you’re using Blackboard

Collaborate Web Conferencing

through your learning management

system (LMS), your user profile may

be automatically populated.


To create a profile:

PC Users: Go to Preferences > My Profile or select Edit Profile from the Participants Options menu.

Mac Users: Select Blackboard Collaborate > Preferences > My Profile

The Moderator controls which profiles are displayed. This is done by selecting: Tools > Profile > Show

Profiles.

Learning, Help, and Support

Advanced Learning Technologies provides Blackboard Collaborate training materials and online tutorials

at: http://alt.ndus.edu/. Select the web conferencing link for more information. For support contact the

NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387. NDUS Help Desk information is also provided on ALT’s website.

Blackboard Collaborate has additional training resources available through its On Demand Learning

Center: http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Collaborate/Services/On-Demand-Learning-Center.aspx.

Visit this site for more in depth information on any of the concepts covered in this handout.

http://alt.ndus.edu/

http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Collaborate/Services/On-Demand-Learning-Center.aspx

Orientation to the user interface

Blackboard Collaborate – Participant View Blackboard Collaborate – Moderator View

Participant View Options Additional Options with Moderator View Content Area View presentations, images, Clip Art and annotations Load and display content – PowerPoint, Whiteboard, images, and Clip

Art

Participants Panel Access Participant Options menu to detach panel

Use the Expand/Collapse Button

Send Feedback, Step Away, Hand Raise, and use the Polling Response options

View a list of Moderators and Participants

View User Profiles

View individual permissions and activity indicators

Grant or take away participant or global permission to use a feature

View Activity & Status Indicators

View User’s Profiles

Use the Feedback, Step Away, & Hand Raise buttons

Use the Polling Response menu

Remove a Participant from a session

Give or take away Moderator privileges

Select multiple Participants to send a private message

Create Breakout Rooms and distribute participants to rooms

Invite a new attendee

Change Polling type

Lock Polling Responses

Make Polling Responses Visible

Publish Responses to Content Area


Participant View Options Additional Options with Moderator View Tools Palette Annotate pages

Place a screen capture on the page

Place Clip Art on the page

Chat Panel Access Chat Options menu

Use the Expand/Collapse button

Send Public Chat

Send Private Chat (if enabled)

Send private messages to Moderators (even if private messaging is disabled)

Send public or private Chat messages

Send Chat announcements

Monitor private messages sent to other users (if enabled for the session)

View Private Chat messages within instructors main chat window

Audio & Video Panel Access Audio & Video Options menu

Use Expand/Collapse buttons

Open the Audio Setup Wizard

View Speaker Level indicator and use volume slider

View Microphone Level indicator and use volume slider

Use the Talk button to speak

Switch to a Teleconference (if enabled)

Use the Preview button to see a preview of your video

Use the Video button to transmit your video

Menu Bar Blackboard Collaborate (Mac only) File, Edit, View, Tools, Window, and Help

Collaboration Tool Bar

View Whiteboard Mode button

View Application Mode button

View Web Tour Mode button

Access Information Menu

Start Application Sharing

Start Web Tour

Set the Timer

Load Content

Start the Recorder

Whiteboard Action Bar

View Page title

Adjust Zoom Value

Create a new page

Delete a page

Clear a page

Adjust Zoom Value

Access Whiteboard Option menu

Navigate Pages

Access Go To Page menu

View Page Counter

Use Page Explorer


Creating a Session Sessions can be created through your learning management system, through Blackboard Collaborate

Instant Messaging, or through Blackboard Collaborate’s Session Administration System (SAS). Follow

your workshop leader’s instructions for creating a session at your institution. Record your notes here.

Content areas and switching between modes Whether you are facilitating a meeting, presenting a webinar, leading a training session or teaching a

class, you will need to include content in the session. Content can be shared with Participants in a

number of ways. In this section we will focus on importing PowerPoint to the Whiteboard and

dynamically creating content using the Whiteboard tools.


The Whiteboard The Whiteboard is the primary content display area in a session. New Whiteboards or Pages can be

added by the Moderator at any time during a session. Presentations, such as PowerPoint, can be loaded

to the Whiteboard. Use the Load Content button to upload a PowerPoint slide show.

These presentations are converted into images and displayed across a series of pages. When content is

loaded into the session, the Page Explorer will open. The Moderator can choose to navigate the pages

using the Page Explorer or close it and have the page navigation buttons appear at the top of the

Whiteboard. The Whiteboard tools, such as the pen, highlighter and text tools, are available to enhance

the content on the screen.

Another key feature of the Whiteboard, available to the Moderator, is Explore Mode. Explore Mode

allows the Moderator to explore or view other pages while locking Participants on the current page.

Explore Mode Off Explore Mode On

Whiteboard Tips

When PowerPoint is loaded into a session, it is converted into a Whiteboard page. As such, each slide is:

Converted into an image

Static (i.e., no animations or transitions)

The converted PowerPoint content, now in Whiteboard (WBD) or Protected Whiteboard (WBP) format,

will load much quicker into future sessions than PowerPoint. The Whiteboard has a 20 MB limit which is

not a 1:1 PowerPoint file size to Whiteboard file size conversion ratio. Therefore large PowerPoint files

should be converted prior to the session to ensure they are file size compliant. If the file is too big,

divide the PowerPoint into multiple files and create multiple Whiteboard files. Load the Whiteboard

files into the session as needed, deleting the completed content. Finally, Whiteboard files also maintain


Virtual PowerPoint

If you’re using a virtual instance of

PowerPoint, save that file locally

as a JPEG file. This creates a folder

and places one image for each

slide within that folder. When

uploading the images to

Blackboard Collaborate use

Control+A (or the Mac equivalent)

to select all images within the

folder.

the interactive features of the object-oriented whiteboard and URLs added to pages using the

Whiteboard text tool.

Previously you learned how to load PowerPoint content to the Whiteboard and to use the tools located

in the Whiteboard Tools palette. That was just the beginning of what you can do with the Whiteboard.

The Whiteboard is a robust object-oriented page that supports customized Clip Art, advanced tools for

managing pages and page content, and interactive whiteboards.

Supported File Types

The following table lists the different file types supported by the Whiteboard. PowerPoint files must be

version 2003 or later. Open Office files must be version 3.1 and higher.

Image .BMP, .GIF, .JPEG, .PNG

Whiteboard files .WBD

PowerPoint and Open Office files .PPT, .PPTX, SXI, .ODP

Managing Whiteboard Pages

You can insert whiteboard pages among PowerPoint pages on

display. To do this click New Page in the gray toolbar you see

pictured above. Use the Tools palette to annotate pages. The Fit

Page options is similar to a zoom control, allowing you to zoom in

and out of images. The Clear Page command becomes available

when a page with annotations has been created. To delete a page

with annotations click the Delete Page command. The Open Page

Option Menu button to the right of the Fit Page command

contains the same set of commands displayed in to the gray

toolbar.


Interactive Whiteboards

As a moderator, you can grant permission for participants to use the Tools palette which enables them

to annotate the screen and move images. This presents a great opportunity to introduce an interactive

activity to participants. In the example below, participants are directed to drag an image to the

appropriate location.

Creating this example requires two steps: you create the PowerPoint slide with the title and the date

table then save the PowerPoint slide as a .JPEG file type and upload the file to Blackboard Collaborate.

Next, upload the four picture images and place them on the current Whiteboard in Blackboard

Collaborate. This enables participants to drag the four images onscreen.

Whiteboards can be created and reused from session to session. Choose File, Save As from the menu to

save a Whiteboard file.

Creating polls At any time during your session, you can poll the attendees using different polls. By default, the Yes/No

poll will be available with the corresponding response buttons displayed above the Participants list. The

types of polls available are Yes/No and Multiple-Choice (Responses A – C, A – D, A – E). You may change

the type of poll at any time – the response buttons will change.


The Polling type is changed by selecting Polling Type from the Global Options menu located in the

Participants panel. The moderator may also choose to make the responses visible to all participants or

only to the moderator by selecting or deselecting “Make Responses Visible.” The responses can also be

locked thereby prohibiting participants from changing their response. Finally the results from the poll

can be published to the Whiteboard. The results are an anonymous graphical representation of the poll.

The polling results can be saved or printed by

saving or printing the Whiteboard page.

Choose WBD or WBP to reuse the page in a

future session. Select PDF to view the page

outside of a session.


Application sharing Application Sharing allows a Moderator and any Participant with Application Sharing permission, to

display an application(s) or desktop with all participants in the session. As you navigate through the

application(s), all participants will see your mouse move and the changes as they are being made to the

displayed content.

There are two ways to share:

1. Application – share a single application such as Word or multiple applications Word and Excel

together.

2. Desktop – share the entire desktop.

After starting Application Sharing there are several tools that will help you facilitate a sharing session.

The first tool is Preview. Use Preview to see a thumbnail of exactly what your participants are seeing.

Preview is located under Tools > Application Sharing > Show Preview Window.

Another set of useful tools are

found in the Application Sharing

toolbar that will appear once you have started sharing.

The tools are Stop, Pause and Snap Shot. Use Stop to

stop sharing. Use Pause to freeze the sharing so you can

move a window or scroll down the page. Snap shot will

take a picture of the application and paste it onto a

Whiteboard page.

Web tour The Web Tour feature enables session participants to share web pages with others in the session. Web

Tour appears in the Content area. It is accessed through the Collaboration toolbar. Once the Moderator

starts the Web Tour each Participant can interact with the content individually. The Moderator also has

the ability to publish the URL to the Chat panel thereby giving participants the ability to save the website

for future reference.

Troubleshooting

“I cannot see the Video, Participants, and

Chat panels while in share mode.” To avoid

this problem make sure the window you are

sharing is not fully maximized. This give you

access to resize the window as you wish.


Key features of the Web Tour:

1. Follow Me – when selected all participants will have synchronized viewing controlled by the

Moderator.

2. The forward and back navigation allows the Moderator to easily move between previously

viewed websites.

3. The Options menu gives the Moderator the ability to publish the URL to the Chat panel.


Considerations:

1. Do not use Web Tour for password protected websites. Participants will not follow the

Moderator past the log in screen.

2. All links are live (i.e., clickable for participants.) Moderators must keep this in mind.

Interactive recordings As a Moderator, you can record a session and play it later. Recordings are stored on the Blackboard

Collaborate server. Playback is available from a learning or content management system, URL or by

logging into the Blackboard Collaborate administrative server. You may want to provide access to the

recording to those who missed the session or to those who attended but would like to review the

session. Or you may want to record sessions for archival purposes. All activity that occurs in the main

room of the session will be recorded, except for private Chat messages, the Timer and personal Notes.

As the recording progresses, Blackboard Collaborate inserts index entries to mark significant events

within the session. Anyone viewing the recording can navigate through the recording to points marked

with index entries. You can start or stop recording at any time during the session. You also can erase the

recording at any time during the session.

Moderator button to start

recording.

Moderator button to pause/stop

recording.

Participant indicator that

the session is being recorded.

Recording Reminder


Additional Training and Resources

Blackboard Collaborate Level 2: Advanced Features

Learn to use advanced features available in Blackboard Collaborate including:

Quiz manager

Graphing calculator

Loading and playing multimedia

Break out rooms

Handing out files to participants

Using the Notes tool for annotating

Using the Timer

Tips for closed captioning

Blackboard Collaborate Level 3: Plan and Publish

Learn to use Blackboard Collaborate Publish to convert session recordings into portable multimedia files.

You will also learn to use Blackboard Collaborate Plan to organize your session content and design the

effective use of the session tools into a file that will be used during your live sessions.

Web Resources Accessibility Guide

http://www.blackboard.com/docs/documentation.htm?DocID=611001PDF

Advanced Learning Technologies website

http://alt.ndus.edu

Blackboard Collaborate On-Demand Learning Center


“Leading the nation in educational attainment through access, innovation and excellence.”

Thank you for bringing us closer to our vision.

Cheryl Randy Kelly Patti

http://www.blackboard.com/docs/documentation.htm?DocID=611001PDF

http://alt.ndus.edu/



Workshop Notes

Blackboard Collaborate Overview

Documents

Transcript of Blackboard Collaborate Overview