UCD TEACHING AND LEARNING/ RESOURCES
E-Learning
Lecturer Guide to the Blackboard Collaborate Virtual Classroom
Author: Leone Gately Email:
[email protected] Date: 14 October 2013
www.ucd.ie/teaching
Table of Contents 1. MODERATOR ESSENTIALS
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1.0 ABOUT THIS GUIDE
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1.1 HARDWARE & SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
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1.2 CREATING A BB COLLABORATE CLASSROOM
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1.3 MOBILE ACCESS
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1.4 TECHINICAL ASSISTANCE
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2. BASIC MODERATING FEATURES
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2.1 FIRST STEPS FOR LECTURERS
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2.2 TRANSMITTING AUDIO (TALKING)
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2.3 TRANSMITTING VIDEO (WEBCAM)
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2.4 INTERACTION TOOLS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION
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3. CONTENT SHARING & COLLABORATION
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3.1 UPLOADING/NAVIGATING A PRESENTATION
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3.2 APPLICATION SHARING
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3.3 WEB TOUR
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3.4 USING THE WHITEBOARD
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3.5 BREAK-‐OUT ROOMS
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3.6 HELPFUL HINTS & TIPS
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3.7 FURTHER INFORMATION
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1. Moderator Essentials: About this Guide
Virtual classrooms are online environments that enable lecturers and students to communicate synchronously (in real-‐time) using a number of methods i.e. audio, video, text chat, interactive whiteboard, application sharing, instant polling etc. Blackboard Collaborate (Bb Collaborate) is a virtual classroom (or web conferencing) tool, purpose built for education, which is currently available in UCD. Lecturers and tutors can use Bb Collaborate for a variety of purposes including: ! ! ! ! !
Teaching/tutoring synchronously online Holding virtual office hours Recording lectures Inviting guest speakers Connecting and collaborating with colleagues and research partners
Bb Collaborate sessions can also be created for students to: ! ! !
Work in study groups Complete peer actitives or colloborate on group projects Record online presentations
This guide outlines how to setup a Bb Collaborate session and overviews the essential features that a lecturer should be familiar with in order to teach using this virtual classroom tool. It is advised that you read this guide and take the necessary steps before delivering your first online session.
1.1 Hardware & System Requirements In order to access the Bb Collaborate virtual classroom the following are required: a desktop/laptop with a reliable Internet connection (preferably broadband), web browser software (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome) and a headset (ear phones and microphone -‐ so you can hear and speak, a webcam is also recommended if you are the lecturer/moderator. Bb Collaborate is a web based java application running from a hosted service. To test your computer configuration do the following before the first session: ! !
Download the latest version of Java software from: http://java.com As a first time user go to the Blackboard Collaborate website and check your system is setup properly via Support Portal/First Time Users/Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing
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In the “First Time Users” section, click “Blackboard Collaborate webconferencing”
A complete overview of the system requirements is also available via the following link: http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8336&task =knowledge&questionID=2890
1.2 Creating a Bb Collaborate Classroom
Bb Collaborate has been integrated with Blackboard to facilitate easy scheduling and streamlined access to Bb Colloborate sessions for students. To setup a Bb Collaborate session in one of your modules take the following steps: 1. Login to https://elearning.ucd.ie/ 2. From your module list select the appropriate module where you would like to create a Bb Collaborate session. 3. Turn editing on/select module tools/blackboard collaborate and create session as indicated below.
4. In the session information section -‐ give your session a name (this will appear in blackboard visible to your students). 5. Set your session start and end time (if you are having weekly sessions it is advisable that you create one classroom for the entire duration of your module). 6. Set the early session entry period; this is the period of time that you allow users to enter the session prior to it beginning 7. In room options select your session type, you can have a session just in one module (select course) or available across a programme i.e. a number of modules you teach on (select shared). 8. In the room attributes section set the following: ! Recording mode: this can be set to automatic or manual ! The maximum number of simultaneous talkers is between 1-‐6, if students will be speaking during the session it is recommended to set this to 6 ! The maximum number of simultaneous videos is between 1-‐6, if you require students to use their webcams during the session it is recommended to set this to 6
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! ! ! ! ! !
View private messages: this allows you view the private messages which students send to each other during the session, recommended setting is OFF Add permissions: this enables participants to have access to audio, chat, video and whiteboard features, recommended setting is ON Raise hand on entry: this enables participants to raise their hand automatically when they enter the classroom, the recommended setting is OFF Allow in-‐session invitations: this enables lecturers while in a session to send a guest link(url) to students/guests, the recommended setting is ON Hide names in recording: has an ON/OFF option Preload content: this feature enables you to upload a file for use in a session
9. In the assign roles section you can set who can access the session as a participant or as a moderator. The recommended setting is ‘all users join as participants’ this way students automatically enter as participants and the lecturer who creates the classroom is autmatically the moderator. If you want all students to have moderator access (i.e. for group work) you should tick the option ‘all users join as moderators’. If you want to add specific moderators (i.e. more than one lecturer) select the ‘assign access option’ and add lecturers and students as appropriate. 10. On completion of the room attributes section, click save and your newly created Bb Collaborate classroom will display as below.
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11. To display your Bb Collaborate Classroom in an appropriate section of your module it is recommended that add a link in your module structure in Blackboard. On the menu on the left hand side of your Blackboard module create a new tab within the module tools section called virtual classroom (as indicated). 12. Return to the Bb Collaborate classroom you have created, via module tools, place your cursor over the title of the classroom until you see an arrow offering you an editing menu. Choose the option ‘Add Link’ (see below), select the content area ‘virtual classroom’, complete the details section i.e. add a description that you wish your students to see, click save.
Your newly created Bb Collaborate classroom should now be accessible to students via the Virtual Classroom tab in your module and should display similar to the below.
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13. To launch the classroom, click on the link (as shown above) and from the room details screen, select launch room (as indicated below). The Bb Collaborate screen will launch and you will be required to save/open (depending on which web browser you are using) a java file (extension .jnlp), the Bb Collaborate virtual classroom will then open. The virtual classroom may take up to 3 minutes to launch. Please note the Collaborate Launcher is only required for Mac OS Users.
1.3 Mobile Access The Blackboard Collaborate Mobile Apps for Android and iOS devices enable participants to access the virtual classroom sessions via mobile devices i.e. phones and tablets. Students/participants can use the following mobile apps to participate. •
Bb Collaborate Mobile: Android App on Google Play
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Bb Collaborate Mobile: iOs iPad & iPhone
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bbcollaborate.collaborate https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blackboard-collaboratemobile/id546742528?mt=8 Image source: http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Collaborate/Pro ducts/Blackboard-‐Collaborate/Mobile-‐ Collaboration.aspx
Note: There is only access to a subset of the functions in Blackboard Collaborate via the mobile apps (see below) and therefore it is not recommended as a lecturer/moderator to attempt to
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deliver/moderate a session via a mobile app Mobile users have access to the following features: viewing the whiteboard, application sharing, accessing breakout rooms, sending and receiving chat messages, listening to audio, speaking and responding to polls.
1.4 Technical Assistance Should you require technical assistance, in the first instance you should seek support from UCD IT Services or alternatively, contact Blackboard Collaborate directly who provide 24/7 Online Technical Support at: http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8336&task=kno wledge&questionID=1
2. Basic Features of Blackboard Collaborate
This section provides an overview of the basic features of the Bb Collaborate classroom from the perspective of a lecturer/moderator and aims to guide lecturers in terms of the first steps they should take to prepare for virtual classroom delivery. It is important to be familiar with the interface from the lecturer’s view (see diagram below):
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2.1 First Steps for Lecturers As the lecturer/moderator of the virtual classroom you should take the following three steps after you create your Bb Collaborate session: 1. Configure Your Audio: Select the audio setup wizard by clicking on the icon as indicated below or by selecting: Tools > Audio > Audio Setup Wizard & follow the steps as directed by the wizard. At the start of a session it is recommended that you check with students if they can hear you by using the yes/no polling option. 2. Check the global permissions for students: Click on the permissions icon at the top of the participant box. Select the permissions you want to give participants by clicking on them the default permissions are audio, chat, video and whiteboard which are indicated with a check mark. 3. Ensure simultaneous speakers and/or cameras are set if you require more than one speaker or camera. In Menu bar go to Tools, Audio/Video, Maximum Simultaneous talkers/cameras and use slider to increase/decrease number of talkers (the default will depend on what you have choosen when creating the classroom).
2.2 Transmitting Audio (Talking)
Click the talk button, indicated below to speak. When a blue microphone appears on the talk button this indicates your microphone is active. To stop transmitting audio unclick the talk button. Note: if you change modes of delivery e.g. web tour, whiteboard, application sharing or go into a breakout room you will need to re-‐click the talk button.
Indicates your mic is active
Click here to speak, unclick when finished speaking
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2.3 Transmitting Video (Webcam)
Before transmitting video, click the preview video icon to check your image. The preview icon is indicated in the diagram. Once you are satisfied with your video image click the video button to transmit. The video button is indicated in the diagram. To stop transmitting video unclick the video button. a) Preview Video
b) Transmit Video
2.4 Interaction Tools to Encourage Participation
Raise/Lower hands: Participants can raise their virtual hands to indicate they have a question, want to speak etc. To raise your hand click on the hand icon indicated in the diagram below in red.
Click here to raise your virtual hand
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To lower hand, participants can click on their hand icon again or moderators can lower all hands by clicking into the global permissions menu (indicated below) and from the drop down menu select ‘lower all hands’.
Emoticons are icons used in an online environment to display emotion. Students and lecturers have a range of emoticons to choose from, which are useful to check students satisfaction, understanding etc. They are available from the drop down menu that appears when they click on the happy face icon indicated by the arrow below.
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The chat box located in the bottom left-hand corner of the Bb Collaborate is where anyone in the session can enter a message. It is recommended to limit the use of text chatting to comments/questions on the content/actual presentation. Highlighted in this diagram below is the ‘moderators’ chat tab, this function is useful if there is more than one moderator/presenter and if you wish to chat without involving students/participants.
Polling is a useful feature to gain participant engagement. Participants can answer yes or no questions, agree/disagree etc. If enabled by the lecturer, participants may also respond to multiple choice questions by using this icon (as indicated in the diagrams below). Once the students have responded to the poll, the lecturer can publish the polling statistics to the Whiteboard, where a graph will be displayed of the percentages of all attendees who answered each option. The yes/no polling function is also useful at the beginning of a session to ensure participants can see and hear.
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3. Content Sharing and Collaboration This section overviews the various content sharing and collaboration options that are possible between lecturers and students within the Bb Collaborate classroom.
3.1 Uploading & Navigating a Presentation Powerpoint presentations can be uploaded to the whiteboard area by selecting the load content button > locating the powerpoint file > the file is then converted to a whiteboard format*
*Note: It may take time to upload several slides or slides that are media/graphic rich. Each slide is loaded as as a whiteboard image meaning that embedded animation and/or hyperlinks are not converted.
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1 2 3 4 5
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Previous page button Next page button Go to page menu Follow option Navigation option menu
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As soon as the content is loaded the page explorer (as above) will open showing all pages that have been loaded. You can navigate the slides by double clicking on the slides in this box or alternatively close this and navigate from the top of the whiteboard features 1-‐5 listed above. Please note that the follow the moderator checkbox (4) must be ticked in order to display slides to students.
3.2 Application Sharing
Application sharing can be used by lecturers to demonstrate applications, it is generally used for demonstration mode but can also be utilised for interactive/collaborative activities e.g. writing a document, creating a mind-‐map etc. When you use application sharing students will be able to see the application on your computer, your cursor and what you type. Most types of software applications can be shared though it is best to check that the application share feature works with the software you wish to demonstrate. To application share select the application share icon from the toolbar as indicated in the digram below. Select the application you want to share (as shown below), all open applications will appear in the list.
Click here to share desktop
Open applications (that are not minimised) will appear here, select the
To stop sharing an application you need to go to Tools>Application Sharing> Stop Sharing.
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3.3 Web Tour The web tour feature allows the lecturer to share web browsing with all students, independent browsing of a particular website can be enabled or if the follow button is ticked the lecturer can have all students follow them as they browse to different web pages.
To web tour select the web tour icon from the toolbar at the top as indicated in the digram. Type the URL(web-‐address) of the web page that you want to share and enter. The webpage will then appear for all participants in the content window*
*Note: •
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This feature does not work on any website that requires a login or access codes; to share such web sites it is recommended to use the appliction share feature. The links are live so participants are free to navigate the website Follow me is a moderator option by clicking this the lecturer is able to re-‐ synchronise all students to a particular web page.
3.4 Using the Whiteboard The whiteboard allows participants to write/draw on it by using the whiteboard menubar as shown below. The key whiteboard tools are highlighted below.
Select Object Tool allows you to move content that you have written or drawn around the whiteboard.
Pointer Tool allows the lecturer to point to particluar parts of the whiteboard, which maybe useful when giving a presentation.
Text writing and drawing tools allows users to add text and do basic drawing on the whiteboard. *Note: The above whiteboard tools have a triangle that you can click to select other pointers/text/drawing options.
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3.5 Break-‐out Rooms Break-‐out rooms can facilitate small group activities and collaboration, a lecturer can create breakout rooms (separate from the Bb Collaborate Main room) and place students into these rooms. Breakout rooms have their own private audio, video, whiteboard, application sharing etc. so the collaboration that takes place in a breakout room is independent of the Main Room (and other breakout rooms). This is an excellent feature when working with small groups as they can be assigned a task and then bring their output as a group back to the main room. To create breakout rooms go to the tools menu>create breakout room. Note* What is said or viewed in a breakout room will not be captured in a recording. Using the breakout rooms is considered an advanced feature and should only be utilised by experienced lecturers/moderators who are comfortable with the tool.
3.5 Helpful Hints & Tips ! ! ! !
Ensure you have the latest version of Java software installed on your computer, see http://java.com for free downloads. Ensure your headset is plugged in before you start the Bb Collaborate session or it might not be detected (run audio wizard to configure audio). Use the yes/no polling feature at the beginning of a session to ensure participants can see and hear. At the beginning of the session communicate ‘session protocols’ to student, these may include using hand-‐raising before speaking, use of the talk button, use of the chat-‐text area, use of the away button etc
3.6 Further Information Blackboard Collaborate provides further reading and additional guides for moderators via http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Collaborate/Services/On-Demand-LearningCenter/Web-Conferencing.aspx On-Demand Web which may be useful to review: • • • • •
Overview for Moderators (recording) Getting Started for Moderators (PDF) Essentials for Moderators (HMTL) Moderator's Guide (HTML) Accessibility Guide (HTML | PDF)
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