The New Interface Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Tips and Tricks by Kornelia Fillmer 1
Full time Professor vs. Adjunct Professor Full Time Professors have Office hours An office for one-on-one meetings How to compensate as an Adjunct Bb collaborate Text messaging or Bb collaborate 2
Blackboard Collaborate Two flavors: Blackboard Collaborate (Bb C) Still available for current users. New users should go straight to new interface. Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (Bb C Ultra) https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/collaborate/ultra New interface. Better playback option Upload documents before session starts Will be the only one in the near future 3
Bb C Ultra what can it do? Create a session with instructor as Moderator Invite students of several classes to join a session Moderator audio will be always on, video could be on to be more personable You share a Whiteboard with visitors and they can see your cursor Write, draw, highlight, point, etc Share preloaded ppts, pdfs, other documents. Then write, draw, Share applications running on moderator s desktop (example: animated ppt) Ask questions to visitors, take surveys, answer students who raise their arm. In short, it mimics the classroom experience with one exception: Moderator won t be able to see students (unless only a few and permitted by moderator) 4
Advantages of using Bb C Ultra Record the session. Students can review on their own time. Hold meetings from the convenience of your home. Office hours for students without leaving their home. The amount of students working either part or full time while being a student is astonishing - especially here at IRSC. Holding office hours in the evening is a service that is very much appreciated by many students. Create a private session with just one student and have a video conference. 5
What did I use Bb C Ultra for Exam review Q&A session. After an Exam, where I see that most students went for the same incorrect answer (see my ZipGrade presentation): I recorded a session by myself to explain that concept from a different angle again. I posted that session in Bb Students can now prepare for the comprehensive final and hopefully get the answer correct then No need to address the concept in lecture again Recording is saved and can be used as a study tool for next semester before students take the exam. 6
What I would Bb C Ultra recommend for Online Course for recording a lecture. Using an animated ppt, create a session with (or w/o) participants and record it. Record Q & A sessions Hold Office hours Have students join session as presenter The moderator hands over control to the presenter Students can evaluate each other Split participants into groups and let them discuss concepts in groups Then join those groups back together and let them present. As a supplement for a regular course. Over time, I will have a library of recorded Q & A sessions and Concept reviews. I can recycle them and post them in Bb for future classes. 7
How to create a session and a link to it Step by step Explanation 1. Login to the course in Bb 2. On the left side under Course Management click on Course Tools followed by clicking on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. 8
How to create a session and a link to it 9 Step by step Explanation 1. Click on Create Session 2. Name the session (here: Exam 4 Review ) 3. Under Guest access, keep the default Participant. To the right is the Guest Link. We need to copy this link and share it with the class (or with anyone else including other classes). Click on the symbol to the right of the link to have it copied to the clipboard (same a Ctrl-C). 4. Enter the start and end times 5. Click on the down arrow next to the section Session Settings.
How to create a session and a link to it 10 Step by step Explanation 1. Shown here is the default 2. Depending on number of participants: 1. Uncheck Share their videos 2. Uncheck Draw on whiteboard and files 3. Click on Save
How to create a session and a link to it 11 Step by step Explanation 1. If not done so already, let s create a menu item: 1. Click on the + sign on the upper left side 2. Click on Content Area 3. Name it and make it Available to users 2. Click on the created Content Page. 1. Under Build Content click on Web Link 2. Name link and in the URL field press Ctrl-V to paste the invitation link to the Bb C Ultra session. 3. Scroll all the way down and click on submit.
Hosting a Session 12 1. In Bb, navigate to the created session. 2. Click on the Name of the session to enter it as the Host.
Hosting a Session 13 1. Prepare for a session by testing your microphone and Video settings
Hosting a Session 14 1. To the lower right side is a button to display the main menu
Hosting a Session 15 1. There are four main sections: 1. Chat 2. List of Participants 3. Material to be uploaded for sharing 4. Settings
Hosting a Session 16 Section Share with Students: 1. Share Blank Whiteboard 1. Whiteboard where you can draw, write, etc 2. Share Application 1. Share a Screen with the class or share a Window with the class. (example: animated ppt) 3. Share Files 1. Upload pdf, word files, pictures, ppt before the session starts. 2. During session, click on an uploaded item and that will be shared 3. Now you can use each still frame as the background.
Hosting a Session 17 To start a recording: 1. Click on the 3 lines symbol to the upper left side 2. This opens a menu 3. Click on Start (and later Stop) Recording.
Hosting a Session 18 To start a recording: 1. Click on the 3 lines symbol to the upper left side 2. This opens a menu 3. Click on Start (and later Stop) Recording. 4. At the end, stop recording and click on leave the session (Lower left)
Posting a Recording 19 It can take 10 min or so after the end of a session for a recording to be available. 1. In the main menu, where your created the session, click on the 3-line symbol (upper left).
Posting a Recording 20 Select Recordings. 1. Now, you will see a list of all your recordings. To see one of them, click on the name. 2. To get the link to be posted on Bb for your students: 1. Click on the three dots in a circle to the far right of the recording you want to publish. 2. Click on copy link. 3. Now you add that link the same way you added the link for the session.
Help 21 Please feel free to send me any questions regarding Bb C Ultra! kfillmer@irsc.edu 772 261 0640 (My google voice/text number for IRSC)