Collaboration Tools    
 

So you are interested in using Blackboard Learning System 7's Collaboration Tools in your courses.

Collaboration tools are composed of two tools.

Tool Description
Virtual Classroom Allows users to enter a real-time discussion with
Instructors, Students, and colleagues, access the Web, and engage in question and answer sessions. Users may also access the Whiteboard to display text and images.
Lightweight Chat The Lightweight Chat is part of the Virtual Classroom, but
can also be accessed separately. It allows users to open just the chat function of the Virtual Classroom.

Here's a checklist of items on where to begin.

Course Settings (completed by instructors)

1. Enabling Collaboration tool (one-time setting)

  • Go to the course Control Panel
  • Under the Course Options section, click on Manage Tools.
  • Click on Enable Blackboard Tools
  • Make sure Collaboration is enabled.
  • Click the Submit button.

2. Collaboration setup

  • Go to the course Control Panel
  • Under Course Tools, click on Collaboration
  • Two Collaboration sessios are setup by default: Lecture Hall and Office Hours and are available
  • You can choose to create additional collaboration settings. Click on Create Collaboration Session
  • Enter the Name of Your Session
  • Select Dates of Availability
  • Make session Available by 'Yes' radio button
  • Choose either Lightweight Chat or Virtual Classroom
  • Click Submit to complete the process
  • Exit out of the Control Panel

3. Make an Annoucement to students of its availability

4. Using Collaboration Tools

  • Go to the course Communication Tools: area located in the left navigation pane of the course
  • Click on Collaboration
  • Available Collaboration Sessions will be listed
  • Click Join to begin participation in an active session

Note: It is important to remember that Collaboration Sessions are not recorded and archived by default. The leader of the session must start the recorder to create an archive. For more information, please see Record Menu.

See page 141 of online Blackboard Instructor manual for more information:
http://home.moravian.edu/public/cit/_help/blackboard/documentation/bbls_rel61_instructor.pdf

Client (students and faculty) Web browser requirements:

Enable the following in your Web browser before beginning: site pop ups, cookies

Install Java Virtual Machine on your computer

Proceed with instructions:

  • Go to the course Comminication Tools: area located in the left navigation pane of the course
  • Click on Collaboration
  • Available Collaboration Sessions will be listed
  • Click Join to begin participation in an active session

 

  • Another pop-up window should appear. Yor virtual classroom session is active.

  • If you do NOT have the Virtual Java Machine client installed, the following screen appears.

  • Download the Java plug-in for your browser by using clicking here link and try again.

  • If you receive this screen, your Web browser does NOT have appropriate plug-in required to run the tool. Note the red 'X'

See page 74 of online Blackboard Student/User manual for more information:
http://home.moravian.edu/public/cit/_help/blackboard/documentation/bbls_rel61_user.pdf

 

 Note:
 Contact the Help Desk at (610) 625-7929 for training or
help with the use of Blackboard. 		 
 
   
 

† designates viewable on Moravian's Intranet - on campus only

Return to Blackboard Home Page

Last Update:
October 26, 2009