Things to check before you join a Collaborate session

Transcription

1 Blackboard Collaborate is an exciting new tool that has been introduced to make it easier for you to interact and communicate with your lecturer in real time. Your lecturer will set up live sessions for the class where you can discuss your subject, a topic or an assessment. The tool allows communication through audio, video, chat and interactive whiteboards. Contents Things to check before you join a Collaborate session... 2 Audio & Microphone... 2 Internet Connection... 2 Checking that your computer is compatible with Collaborate... 2 How to join a Collaborate session... 4 Control Panel tools Whiteboard tools How to leave a Collaborate session... 15

2 Things to check before you join a Collaborate session Audio & Microphone Collaborate allows you to speak during the session and listen to your lecturer or classmates. If you have a headset with a microphone, you can plug this into your computer and use it to communicate during a session. If you do not have a headset but your computer has speakers and a microphone, make sure you sit somewhere with minimal background noise so that your lecturer and classmates can hear you clearly. Don t worry if you do not have a microphone, you can just type in the Chat section to communicate. Internet Connection Collaborate sessions run smoothest if you are using an ADSL connection. If you are connecting to wireless internet, you should make sure that you have a strong and constant signal. Students can access a Collaborate session using dial-up internet, but this is not recommended as dial-up can make the session very slow, with a greater risk of drop-out. Checking that your computer is compatible with Collaborate Accessing the session is fairly easy but to enter a session you will need to ensure that your computer has the minimum system requirements before a session commences. Checking that you have the minimum system requirements is simple. You can access a website which will automatically check whether your computer has the capacity to access a Collaborate session (click the link below): questionid=1279 2

3 If the website shows green tick marks for your Operating System and Java Webstart Version then you should be able to access Collaborate sessions without any issues. If a red cross appears, you will need to update your software. The website will provide you a link to download the latest software. 3

4 How to join a Collaborate session To join a session, click on the Collaborate or Online Sessions or Live Interactive sessions (depending on the class) link on a class page. This link will be located in the navigation pane on the left of the screen. You will be able to identify if a Collaborate session is open because the Collaborate icon will appear next to it. You will be able to access a Collaborate session up to 30 minutes before it is set to begin. You should enter the session at least 15 minutes before it begins so that you can check everything is working and also to assist students with any issues before the session is due to commence. To enter a Collaborate session, click on the title link. You should see a page similar to the one below. The Room Details page will appear. 4

5 If you have not already done so, you will be prompted to download the Blackboard Collaborate Launcher. If you are not prompted, you can click the download the Blackboard Collaborate launcher link. A pop up window will appear. Click the Download Launcher button. A pop up window will appear, prompting you to download the launcher. Click the Save File button. 5

6 The launcher installer file will begin to download. This will take 5-10 minutes to download. Once the file has downloaded, locate it in your computer s downloads. The below screenshot indicates where you would find the file in Firefox (our preferred internet browser). Click the Blackboard Collaborate launcher installer file to open it. A pop up window will ask you to confirm that you wish to install the launcher. Click the Run button. 6

7 The installer will open. Click the Next button to begin the installation of the launcher Click the Install button. 7

8 The installer will run. Click the Finish button once the installation is complete. 8

9 Click the Join Room button to access the Collaborate session A pop up window will prompt you to download the meeting.collab file. PC (Windows) users Choose to open the file. Click the OK button. Mac users Choose to save the file. Click the OK button. Open a new Finder window, locate the file in your Downloads folder and open it from there. 9

10 You will see a window which asks whether you wish to run Collaborate. Click Run. Collaborate will ask you to confirm that you agree to adhere to the conditions of the program. Click Accept. 10

11 Collaborate may ask you to choose your internet speed from a dropdown menu. The Collaborate session will open in a new window. The session will open a smaller window to connect you to the session. 11

12 Once the connection window disappears you will be connected to the Collaborate session and will be able to interact with your lecturer and classmates. 12

13 Control Panel tools You will see the control panel on the left hand side of the Collaborate window session. Use the audio setup wizard to set up your speakers and microphone Speak to the room using your microphone click to turn on and off Speak to the room using your webcam click to turn on and off Preview your webcam before you broadcast Use emoticons to communicate Indicate that you have stepped away from the session Vote in a poll Raise your hand to ask a question Send a message using the chat function 13

14 Whiteboard tools Your lecturer may enable your ability to write on the Whiteboard. A toolbar will appear when your Whiteboard access has been enabled. An icon will have additional options if it has a in the bottom right hand corner. Right click the icon to access these options. To use a tool, left click the button and then click & drag the tool to write on the whiteboard. A toolbar will appear if the tool you have selected allows you to choose the colour or line width. Select tool allows you to select and move content added to the Whiteboard by you or your lecturer Draw or Highlight you can change the size and colour of the pencil/highlighter Pointers you can use these if you want to point out or emphasise something on a slide Multi line/single line text box you can add a textbox to type on the whiteboard Solid Square or Circle you can change the size and colour of your shape Outline Square or Circle - you can change the size and colour of the outline Draw a line you can change the colour and length of the line Snapshot you can take a snapshot of the screen which will be pasted on to the Whiteboard Clipart you can insert a Clipart image which you will be able to resize 14

15 How to leave a Collaborate session To leave a session, click the red cross at the top right of the Collaborate window. A window will appear to confirm that you wish to leave the session. Click Yes. 15