Create the session. In the Blackboard course go to Control Panel > Course Tools > Blackboard Collaborate and click Create Session.

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1 Blackboard Collaborate Basics Below are the basics to get started with Blackboard Collaborate. We suggest that you practice using it before holding a session with students for the first time. You can create a practice session in your course and keep the link hidden so students won t see it, but you can use it to become familiar with the tool. You can also practice in a development course. If possible, have someone else join you in the practice session so you can interact with another person and they can tell you what they see and hear. Laurie Lyons (lbl@gwu.edu), Sue Okun (sjo@gwu.edu), and Linda Cotton (cottonl@gwu.edu) are all happy to join HSP faculty in a practice session as schedules allow. Create the session In the Blackboard course go to Control Panel > Course Tools > Blackboard Collaborate and click Create Session. Give the session a name and select the day and time it will be held. Add some padding to the time period to allow participants to check their audio connections and for delays in getting started, or meetings that run longer than expected. You can also choose to set the meeting to start days in advance and end after the scheduled time. This would allow participants to test their audio at their convenience before the meeting. The default settings for the session are generally fine. Click Submit. To change any of the settings or the name after the session has been created, click the down arrow next to the session name and select Edit Session.

2 Provide a link for students to access the session There are two options for providing students with access to Collaborate sessions: 1. Create a link in the main course menu for all Collaborate sessions and recordings: Click on the plus sign icon at the top of the course menu. Select Tool Link from the menu. Give the menu item a name such as Collaborate Meetings, select Blackboard Collaborate Scheduling Manager as the type, check to make it available to user, and submit. 2. Create a link from a page within your course directly to a specific Collaborate meeting: On the BB Collaborate page, click on the down arrow next to the session name and select Add Link. Select where you would like the link for the session to appear in the course. Below that add any details about the session. Click Save. A link to the session will appear in the location you selected.

3 Test your hardware and software before the session begins Health Sciences Programs Give yourself enough time prior to the session to do the following: Ensure you can run Collaborate and enter the meeting room. Click on the link purple icon link in Blackboard and then click Join Room. You may need to install or update the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and/or the Blackboard Collaborate Launcher. This can take some time, particularly the first time. Blackboard provides these system requirement details for first-time users. In the meeting window at the top of the Audio & Video panel, click on the icon for the Audio Setup Wizard. Select your audio device and follow the steps to check your headset/speakers and microphone. Begin the live session If you will be using a presentation or reviewing images during the session, click on the Load Content button in the upper right corner to upload the files. Presentation slides will be converted and loaded into Collaborate s whiteboard. Other file types, such as.pdf or.doc can be shown to participants by sharing the application. We do not recommend playing videos during a Collaborate meeting. Use the buttons provided to advance through presentation slides.

4 If you will be in the meeting by video (webcam), click on the Preview Video button next to the Video button in the Audio and Video box. Preview your video and when you are ready to for the session participants to see you, click on the Video button. You will see a webcam icon appear by your name in the Participants box. Click the Talk button when you are ready for the participants to hear you talking. You will see a microphone icon appear by your name. You must click the Talk button to be heard. Click the Record button in the upper right corner when you are ready to start the recording. We recommend always recording sessions for students unable to attend. Give participants the level of permissions you would like them to have. If you would like participants to be able to speak, broadcast video, and/or use the whiteboard, you will need to grant those permissions either individually or globally. Use the pull down menu at the top of the Participants section for global permissions or to the right of participants names for individual permissions. Hover over participant names for individual permissions.

5 Run/Moderate the session Here are a few tips and hints: Keep an eye on the Chat box for questions or feedback from the participants. This is often where they will tell you if they cannot hear you or if something else is wrong. Try to have a second moderator to assist with this and troubleshooting if you are new to online conferencing. Participants or other presenters must click the Talk button for others to hear them speak and unclick the button when they are done speaking. There will be a blue (not grey) microphone icon next to the names of those who are speaking or projecting video. The default setting is that only three people can have microphone rights at one time. Remind participants about clicking and unclicking the talk button to avoid wasting time during the meeting. Use the icons at the top of the screen to use the whiteboard, screen or application sharing, and website functions during your session. If you are going to share your screen, have it ready before the meeting. Close extra windows and turn off or IM notifications. Make sure there is nothing personal or embarrassing on your desktop or browser. Stop the recording when the session is over and close the window.

6 Access the recording of the session To access the recording of your session after it is over, use the menu item you created for Blackboard Collaborate, or go to Control Panel > Course Tools > Blackboard Collaborate. Click on Recordings. If you created a Collaborate link in your main course menu as described above, students can always access recordings by clicking on that Recordings tab. If you would like to add a link to a recording from somewhere in your course, click on the down arrow next to the name of the session recording and select Add Content Item. As described above for the link to the session, select where in the course you would like the link to the recording to appear, add a description and click submit. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact: Laurie Lyons lbl@gwu.edu Linda Cotton cottonl@gwu.edu Updated: June 2015