Collaborate

Blackboard Collaborate states that they "Offer a more collaborative, interactive, and mobile learning experience that constantly evolves, and you’ll keep everyone engaged like never before. That’s what the Blackboard Collaborate™ online collaboration platform is all about. Helping you create virtual classrooms, offices and meeting spaces that open more possibilities to more students, wherever they are. Offering exciting new approaches to learning while involving each student on an individual level."

Collaborate is available on your ANGEL shell and all you need to do is create a session and GO!

First, open the course that you wish to have your recording or session in:

Second, go to the edit pencil in the nugget called "Elluminate Live!"

Then, click on the words "Add Session" under Elluminate Live! Sessions

Give your session a title, select the date and time that you wish for your recording to start and end, and ALWAYS click "Add to Calendar"

You can set a session to repeat at the same time, but you may choose to do this manually until you are comfortable with the process of creating a session.   

**When scheduling the time in section 2 above: You must use Eastern Standard Time!!  When you click "Save to Calendar" it will show MST for students viewing it.**

Session access under the tab "Session Access" allows you to set when students will be able to access the Collaborate session BEFORE its start time.  If you leave it at the default of 30 min, then students will be allowed to open the session 30 minutes before you actually are scheduled to begin. This time is important for students to set up their computers and make sure they are able to get into the session. Your options for access are in 15 minute increments: 0, 15 min., 30 min., 45 min., and 60 min.

Under the tab "Moderators & Participants" you want to select your students (you can do all at one time by clicking on the first student and then holding the "shift" button down, click on the last student) and place them in the Participant box by using the "add" arrows next to the "Participants" box.  If you put students in the moderator box, they will then be able to control your screen and override you in some areas.

Under the tab "Session Attributes" you will be selecting how you wish to start your recordings, you have a manual option, Automatic option (which will begin immediately when you open Your collaborate session, or Disabled option.  I strongly suggest you leave it on MANUAL.  As students enter the session you can make sure everyone can hear you, see you, and your screen is visible.  Once all sound and video checks are complete, I'll show you how to start recording manually.

Now just click "CREATE"  and you are set to have a collaborate session at the time you scheduled.

Day of Recording

On the day that you are scheduled to record your session, open your ANGEL, and click the pencil in the Elluminate Live! nugget or open your calendar.  

Under the pencil (edit) button in Elluminate Live!:

Under the Calendar, click the link:

After clicking on the link in the calendar, you will see this: 

Simply launch the meeting from here.

Upon launch, you will be required to download and run the Java program to get into Collaborate.  See this video, Then I've broken down the steps below into single images.

Steps to opening the Collaborate Program:

1) When prompted if you want to keep this program - click "Keep":

2) After downloading the program, you may need to open it by clicking on the box in the bottom left corner when using Google Chrome:

3) After the program runs, this may take a few seconds, you will be prompted to "Run" the program:

4) Then it will take a few minutes for Collaborate to open.  Once it does, it will ask you if you want to start recording?  We set it for Manual recording, so click on "Close" :

You are ready to start your session!!  As students begin to enter the session you will need to open their mic and/or web cameras.  You may also give them permission to chat.

The following images show what each icon represents:

Other great features with Collaborate is all located under the "Tools" heading

Application sharing allows you to share your desktop if you don't want to remain on the Collaborate whiteboard.

 You can also enable the sharing feature from here:

If you or students are having a hard time hearing or need assistance setting up mics and cameras, use the "Audio" wizard to make sure all your mics and cameras are on the right settings.

Break Out Rooms are an excellent way to have students interact privately on an assignment and then come back together to present their work:

The Chat features lets you control your fonts and whether or not you want students to have emoticons or not.

Emoticons are also located here:

The In-Session Invite is great if someone is having difficulty getting to ANGEL or the link in ANGEL, you can go here and get the link and email it or copy it. 

Telephony allows participants to use the telephone to call in and ask questions if they are do not have a microphone on their computer.

Simply give them the information for the phone number and pin for the participant and they can dial in and listen and participate.

Timer gives you the option of putting a timer on your screen to count down or count up.

Video allows you to set the camera to follow you, the moderator, or anyone who is speaking.  This setting also allows you to work with the settings of the web cam you are using.

Finally, the Whiteboard gives you the option to protect it so students can't write on it during your presentation.

Recording: 

Recording can start when you go to the upper right hand corner and click on "Record".  Once you have completed your recording or you need to pause the recording, click on "Record" again.