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Access and Use Blackboard Collaborate (students)

Classes meeting online may benefit from using Blackboard Collaborate.  Students can find information below to connect and use the software.

Access Blackboard Collaborate

  1. Navigate to bb.oc.edu and log in with your OC user credentials if prompted.
  2. Open your course.
  3. In the left-hand menu, choose the Blackboard Collaborate option.  Instructors can name the link as they choose, so it may say Blackboard Collaborate, Collaborate, Online Class Access, or something similar.
  1. Each class will have a general course room.
  2. There may also be scheduled class sessions.  Those sessions will be listed by date and time.

Click on the appropriate room.  If there's a scheduled room for your class time, choose that one.

Join Meeting

  1. Click Join Session to join the session using your computer's audio and video.
  2. If you would rather dial in using a phone for your audio, you can call the phone number listed and enter the PIN as the conference number.   After you dial in, click on Join Course Room so you can see the video.  This option may be preferable if you're connecting with a low bandwidth.  You can change this option in the middle of the session if you're having trouble.

Allow Access to Microphone and Camera

Your browser may pop up and ask for permission to use your microphone.   Click Allow.

An Audio Test will appear if you have not used Collaborate before.

  1. Speak to test your microphone.  (Don't worry.  No one in the room can hear you yet!)
  2. If you notice movement, click Yes - It's working to proceed.
  3. If you're having trouble, click on the pull-down to select a different microphone.
  4. If it's still not working, click on No- I need help to get some troubleshooting steps.

Click Allow to allow access to your camera.

A video test will appear.

  1. If you can see yourself, click Yes - It's working.
  2. If not, click No - I need help for some troubleshooting steps.

Expand the sections below for detailed information about using Blackboard Collaborate.

Session Menu

The session menu will be in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.  It will be a menu icon with 3 horizontal lines.  If you open the session menu, you'll have several options:

  1. If you're having trouble with the audio on your computer, click on this button. It will provide a phone number for you to call, as well as a pin number that you will need to input when you call.
  2. You can report an issue to Blackboard.
  3. You can get a tutorial about Collaborate from Blackboard.
  4. You can get access to Blackboard Collaborate online help.
  5. You can read the Privacy Policy.
Collaborate Panel

The Collaborate menu can be activated by pressing the purple button in the bottom right hand corner. When you click this button, you can access Settings, Sharing, Attendees, and the Chat function.

Settings

Audio and Video Settings

1. click on "Audio and Video Settings" to expand the menu.

 

  1. Click on Set up Your camera and microphone to step through the setup again.
  2. The Dial-In number is listed
  3. You can adjust your speaker volume.
  4. Display Closed Captions (When Available).
  5. Toggle whether to display the maximum number of videos.
Notification Settings

1. Click on "Notification Settings" in the My Settings Menu.

1. Click on the boxes to edit the types of notifications you want to receive during class meetings.

Session Settings

1. Click on "Session Settings" to expand the menu.

2. You can either "Report an Issue" or Chat directly with support.

Sharing

1. Click on the Icon that has a box with an arrow pointing outside the box. This is the sharing icon. Most of the time you will see a message that says you don't have access to share your content.  

If your instructor gives you permission to share, you'll be given additional options.

If your instructor give you permission to present, you will have permission to share.

  1. Share Blank Whiteboard will open a whiteboard where you and other participants can type and draw
  2. Share Application/Screen will allow you to share your entire screen, a specific application Window, or a specific Chrome Tab.
  3. Share Files will allow you to share a PDF,  Image or PowerPoint File.

You can find more information about sharing here:

https://help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Moderator/Moderate_Sessions/Share_Content

Attendees

The Attendees button will show the people that are currently in the class.

Chat

Click on the Chat icon to open the chat window.

If permitted by your instructor, you have two options in Chat.

 

  1. You can start a private chat with someone in the class.  Type the name of a class member to find them and begin a chat with them
  2. You can chat with everyone.  This is a great way to ask your instructor clarifying questions during a session.

Be careful what you say in your private chats! Moderators may supervise private chats between participants. There is a warning when moderators are supervising.  If your instructor is recording the class session, chats to everyone will be recorded.

My Status and Settings

At the bottom of the screen, there's a menu that will allow you to quickly change your status and settings.

  1. Click on the person icon to change your status.  These settings will allow you to easily communicate with your professor about the content they're presenting.  You can ask the instructor to slow down or speed up.  You can also send a notification that you're confused to give the instructor a change to clarify.
  2. Click on the microphone icon to turn on your microphone.  We encourage you to leave the microphone off unless you need to speak.
  3. Click the video button to turn on your camera and share your video.  This may be appropriate in small group discussions, but maybe not during large classes.  Your instructor should tell you what their preference is.
  4. Raise your Hand to get the attention of your professor and let them know you have a question.  This will allow them to call on you at an appropriate stopping point.
Recordings

Because some of you will be living in different time zones or may have difficulty connecting at certain times, we have asked all teachers to record all of their live classes. If you can participate in class at the time regularly offered, you should. If you are not able to participate at the regularly scheduled time, please contact your teacher and explain why.

To find the recordings:

  1. Open Blackboard Collaborate (or Collaborate, Online Class Access, or something similar).
  2. Click on the Menu
  3. Click Recordings.  The class recordings will be listed in the main section of the page.

Blackboard Help

You can find additional help resources at https://help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Participant

Contact Support Central

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