LTSE Online Teaching Tools Collaborate Subject Rooms

Collaborate for teaching

Our screencast will demonstrate how to use BB Collaborate as a Moderator to deliver and record information sessions, tutorials, lectures, meetings plus all the easy to use functions such as chat, whiteboard, file and application sharing, polling, breakout rooms and more.

This video can be paused and restarted at anytime.

→ Collaborate for Moderators - Slides from screencast

Feel free to reuse the slides in staff training sessions you may be running.

Blackboard Collaborate

An easy to use, reliable web conferencing solution for education and training, and is conveniently located in every LearnJCU subject site.

Join sessions quickly - Collaborate Ultra will open right in your browser to join a session (no other software needed).Chrome is our recommended web browser, to take full advantage of Collaborate Ultra.
Focus on teaching - The new interface is easy to use so you can focus on teaching.

Students can access Collaborate sessions from within a LearnJCU subject site on desktop or device.

What you will need to use Collaborate

Internet access, preferably wired if you can (Broadband internet speed recommended)
Web browser (Chrome recommended)
Headphones/speakers and microphone
Webcam or inbuilt camera (if using video)
Review the advice on Get Started with Collaborate in Blackboard Help.

Recommendations for running sessions

Suggest that participants hide their video and just have the Speaker sharing theirs
Convert PowerPoints to PDFs and upload slides instead of using screen share
Run short sessions and consider complementing with alternative means of communication such as discussion forums, ePortfolios or shared documents.

Where possible use a wired connection
- If wired connection is not possible choose a location with good connectivity
Turn off the Video while presenting content
- Turn off your camera lecturer while presenting slides or content.
- Only turn your camera on when directly interacting with the students
Sharing files

Sharing from application instead of within the Collaborate session is not advised by Blackboard

Sharing the Application window uses more bandwidth than file sharing
Reduce the size of files by converting to pdf format (preferably for web). Especially large PowerPoint presentations.
Upload files required during the session upfront, not during the session

More on Session Best Practices for Moderators. Watch screencast Collaborate for Moderators.

Test run Collaborate

Check out a Collaborate Virtual Classroom as either a Moderator or a Student

Practice classroom as a moderator - As a moderator you can practise uploading your lecture notes and handouts, using the whiteboard area or sharing your applications.
Practice classroom as a student - As a student, you can see how the collaboration tools work from a student perspective.

Collaborate protocols

Protocols to run through for every Collaborate lecture

Join at least 15 minutes early to test your audio and video.
Greet students as they join.
Have a welcome slide with instructions to set up audio/video (available pre-made slides).
Explain to students how you would like the session to run (i.e. questions at the end, questions asked via chat, students to raise their hand or students to ask as they please, suggest turning off cameras to help with bandwidth). Ensure all students understand the basics before proceeding.
If you are planning to record, seek permission and explain the video/audio/chat will be recorded and made available to all in the subject.
One person on microphones at a time- turn off if they are not speaking (this will stop background noise and bandwidth).
Speak clearly, slowly and be animated.
Engage the students through polling, feedback, emoticons, ask questions and use student names.
Only record if necessary.
Be patient with students and self while everyone adjusts to new ways.

→ Printable PDF for Collaborate Protocols (PDF, 521 KB)