Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
Collaborate Ultra, previously available within Blackboard, is also available for use as a virtual classroom tool within Brightspace.
Collaborate features video conferencing with screen sharing, a virtual whiteboard, chat, breakout rooms and session recording. In addition, it is possible to give participants moderator or presenter privileges.
Creating a Collaborate Ultra Course Room
To create a link to Collaborate in your Brightspace unit/module, follow these steps:
Navigate to the appropriate Content area, e.g. Learning resources > Week 1. Use the Existing Activities button to select External Learning Tools.
Select Collaborate from the popup window displaying available tools.
You will see that a clickable Collaborate link has been added to your unit/module.
Anyone using this link will be taken to a screen where they will be asked to give their name. To enter the room, click Join Session (see picture on right).
After clicking Join Session, Students will then be asked to check they have a working camera and microphone; this is followed by an optional tour of the interface.
Scheduling sessions
If you want to schedule sessions, for example if you want to get your students together at the end of the first week of the semester to discuss how things are going, or if you want to offer pre-exam guidance (scheduling is especially useful if you are planning to record and re-watch conferences), follow these steps:
Click on the External Learning Tool link that you made previously.
On the next screen, unless you already have any sessions listed, you will see two Create Session buttons.
Click either button to begin.
In the Settings popup that follows, give your session a title, select a date and time, and complete any other details as appropriate.
Click Save to continue.
Clicking Save will return you to the Sessions screen, where you will see your new session listed (see picture opposite).
Students would find your scheduled session after clicking on the link but there are things you can do to make the initial link more helpful.
Move on to the next page to see how you can make a session link more descriptive.
Making a session link more descriptive
There are various ways you can make your Collaborate links more descriptive. Follow the steps below.
Click on the Collaborate External Learning Tool link in your Table of Contents.
This will return you to the Sessions screen.
To add detail/context to this, remain on the Sessions screen and click on the title.
Change the generic ‘Collaborate’ to something specific, e.g. ‘Collaborate Week 1 chat’.
Hit enter on your keyboard to make the change.
Return to the Table of Contents to see the effect of your change.
In addition to a specific title, consider adding some descriptive text.
To do this click on the Actions dropdown and select Edit Properties In-place.
Click on Add a description
And add some helpful context.
Click Update to complete the process.
Creating recurring sessions
You can create individually scheduled sessions with Collaborate; however, if you know that you are going to meet at the same time each week for a similar reason, you can create recurring sessions. Follow these steps:
From the Sessions screen, selected Create Session
In the Settings popup, check the Repeat session box and select how often, when and for how many weeks you want to repeat the session.
The result is a long list of similar looking items (click picture to enlarge).
Moderator experience
All those with Instructor access to a Brightspace unit/module will enter a Collaborate session as a Moderator.
To access a scheduled session, click on the appropriate link in the Table of Contents, e.g. Week 1 (picture opposite). This will take you to the Session screen.
The Sessions screen will offer links to all the scheduled sessions you have set up.
To join a session select the one appropriate to the particular date and time and click on that instance (opposite).
Initially Moderators will see a fairly blank screen (click to enlarge).
However, as a Moderator (using the Collaborate Panel - bottom right) you are able to share many things (a whiteboard, your screen, an application, a poll). You can also set up a timer and create breakout rooms. Below is an example of a shared screen (click on the image to enlarge):
Visit site: Collaborate Ultra is a powerful tool, with many functions and settings. In this guide we could have included numerous screen shots to illustrate the Moderator experience, trying to anticipate every use case; however, Blackboard have already created extensive guidance on the Collaborate user interface, including a video walk through – essentially everything you’re likely to need to know.
Please visit and bookmark their Get Started with Collaborate Ultra for Moderators site.
Student experience
All students accessing a Collaborate session in Brightspace will join as Participants.
To access a scheduled session, a student should click on the link in the External Learning Tool link in the Table of Contents, e.g. Week 1 (picture opposite).
Clicking on the External Learning Tool link shown above will take students to the Session screen. This screen will offer links to all of the scheduled sessions you have set up. To join a session a student must select the session appropriate to the particular date and time, and click on that instance.
On joining a session, until other students arrive, or the Moderator shares content via their screen, the Participant view of Collaborate is a fairly blank screen (opposite, click to enlarge).
Visit site: As stated earlier, this guide could be used to anticipate everything a student may want to know about the Collaborate interface – but Blackboard have already done it! There is extensive guidance for students, including a video walk through, on their Get Started with Collaborate Ultra for Participants site.
Share this link with your students.