The document outlines the key features and uses of Blackboard Collaborate, a platform designed for synchronous online discussions, presentations, and engagement activities. It describes functionalities such as text and voice chat, video conferencing, screen sharing, and interactive tools for moderators and participants. Additionally, it highlights the platform's accessibility through mobile apps and its capabilities for managing virtual office hours, recruitment events, and dynamic learning experiences.

1. Blackboard Collaborate
Matt Cornock
E-Learning Development Team
University of York
mattcornock

2. Key uses: synchronous discussion
Photo: flickr.com/ernestduffoo/5741454316
Text chat
Voice chat
Video chat
Full control and support for multiple simultaneous speakers

3. Key uses: presentations
Present and view on or off campus
Improve access to external speakers
Remote student presentations
Photo: flickr.com/juhansonin/3947180005
More opportunities for audience engagement

4. Key uses: supervision
Virtual office hours
Personal support for distance learners and placement students
Review assessments and feedback
More opportunities for audience engagement

5. Key uses: recruitment and outreach
Virtual open days, live chat and presentations
Online public engagement events
No University log in required
Mobile app for participants for quick access
Photo: flickr.com/jorgecorrea/364792633

6. Collaborate layout
PC and Mac have
identical layout
Moderator and
participant see
same interface

7. Collaborate mobile app
Available free on iOS,
Android and Kindle Fire
Clean interface, for participants only
Voice chat and text chat

8. Talk and video chat Easy setup wizard
to help get
microphone and
headset sorted
Button controls to
talk and share
webcam
Quick access to
volume controls
Webcam auto-
switches to
whoever is talking

9. Content for sessions
Use PowerPoint slides to hold the content for sessions and
presentations. To import:
1. Close PowerPoint.
2. Click the Load Content button to upload the file.

10. Slide-driven sessions
Optional slide
navigation/
preview pane
Uncheck to allow
participants to
explore slide deck
independently

11. Interaction tools
Encourage
participants to use
emoticons, away,
and raise hand
icons to support
your facilitation of
the session in the
absence of visual
cues
Use the poll tool to
receive Yes/No or
multiple choice
responses, then
publish to the
whiteboard

12. Full interaction control
Talk
Video
Text
Chat
Annotate
Whiteboard
Screen
Share
Web
Tour
Add/removed
interaction
privileges for all
users or selected
participants

13. Collaborative workspace
Moderators and participants with
annotation privilege can add text and
shapes to the whiteboard for a
dynamic and participatory learning
experience
Pointers allow the mouse cursor to
be viewed by participants, even on
mobile devices
Select
Pointer
Pen
Text
Filled shape
Outline shape
Line
Screenshot
Clipart

14. File sharing
Participants can download at any
point during the session

15. Screen sharing
This example
shows a moderator
on a Windows PC
viewing and
annotating a Word
doc by remote-
controlling a
participant’s Apple
Mac

16. Active learning within Collaborate
Check audio Introduction
Participants share
their aims
Content
Check
understanding
Content
Discussion
activity in
breakout groups
Collect key points
on whiteboard
Summarise
Download
whiteboard as
PDF for notes
End session Tutor-led
Student activity
Photo: flickr.com/okfde/15225437541

17. Desktop vs mobile
DESKTOP
 Listen to Audio
 Send Audio
 View Slides/Whiteboard
 Edit Whiteboard
 Text Chat
 Raising Hand
 Emoticons
 Participate in Polls
 View Webcam
 Send Webcam
 View Screen Share
 Send Screen Share
 Web Tours
MOBILE
 Listen to Audio
 Send Audio
 View Slides/Whiteboard
 Edit Whiteboard 
 Text Chat
 Raising Hand
 Emoticons
 Participate in Polls
 View Webcam 
 Send Webcam 
 View Screen Share
 Send Screen Share 
 Web Tours 
Photo: flickr.com/ecastro/5952568472

18. And much, much more…
Breakout rooms for large cohorts
Session recording
Plan! tool for creating consistent session experiences for
participants with different moderators
Photo: flickr.com/neychurluvr/4027574285

19. Further info and guides
Complete guides for getting started with
Collaborate are available online
http://bit.ly/eldt-webinars
Contact us to discuss use cases or to set up a
separate Collaborate site in Yorkshare
vle-support@york.ac.uk