Using Big Blue Button for Video Conferencing in Blackboard

Transcription

1 Using Big Blue Button for Video Conferencing in Blackboard AIC is currently piloting Big Blue Button as a video conferencing tool in Blackboard. You and your students can hold virtual class meetings and study sessions within Blackboard, and these meetings can be recorded and shared for future reference. This document outlines the steps for getting started with Big Blue Button and holding a basic meeting. Adding Big Blue Button to Your Course To access Big Blue Button, log into Blackboard and enter your course. You can find Big Blue Button by clicking on Course Tools in the black course menu. If you do not have a Course Tools button, you can do so using the following steps: 1. Click on the grey plus sign at the top of the course menu. 2. Select Tool Link. 3. From the drop down menu, select Big Blue Button. Be sure to type a name for the link (you may want to call it Meeting Room or similar) and select Available to Users. Click Submit. 3/23/15 Teaching Technologies Documentation Series 1

2 4. The link will appear at the bottom of the menu. Click on the arrows on the left side of the link to drag it where you would like to place it in the menu. Alternatively, you may want to add a link to Big Blue Button in the weekly modules where you will be using it. Here are the steps: 1. Select the folder where you would like to add the link. 2. Select Tools > More Tools > Big Blue Button. 3. Type a name for the link and a description (such as instructions for accessing the meeting), then click Submit. 3/19/2015 Teaching Technologies Documentation Series 2

3 Once you have added Big Blue Button into your course, click on the link to open it. The first time you open the link, you will be asked to create a room with the following options: Meeting Name: This is a generic name for your class meeting room. You may want to name it with the class name and/or number (e.g., ACC 5300: Managerial Accounting ). Description: Use this space to type instructions for using the meeting room. Welcome Message: Type a message for participants to see when they enter the room. Students must wait until an instructor joins the session: If you would like students to use Big Blue Button to schedule group meetings, it is recommended that you leave this box unchecked. Sessions in this room may be recorded: If you would like to be able to record meetings, check this box. Once you have entered your specifications, click Save. Entering and Starting a Meeting You or your students can start a meeting at any time by entering your Blackboard course and clicking on the link for Big Blue Button. Click on Join Session to start a meeting. 3/19/2015 Teaching Technologies Documentation Series 3

4 When you enter the meeting room, click on Microphone to select your microphone and test your audio settings. After clicking on Microphone, your browser will ask you to share your microphone. The way this appears will vary by browser: Firefox: Select your microphone from the drop down menu and click Share Selected Device. If you do not see this window appear, click on the microphone icon in the address bar. Chrome: A pop up bar will appear at the top of the window. Click Allow to give the browser access to your microphone. Once you have allowed access to your microphone, the audio test will open. Follow the steps to test your microphone and speakers. After completing the audio test, the meeting room will open. Click on the record button to begin recording the session. 3/19/2015 Teaching Technologies Documentation Series 4

5 Navigating the Meeting Room Window A number of features are available in the meeting room. Below is an overview of what you can find: 1. TV/Monitor Icon: Share your desktop with participants. 2. Microphone Headset Icon: Turn your microphone on/off. 3. Webcam Icon: Turn your webcam on/off. 4. Record Icon: Begin recording the session. 5. Mute Icon: Mute your microphone. Anyone who is not a presenter should be instructed to do this upon entering the room, to avoid excess noise or distractions. 6. Participant List: Includes the names of the participants in the room. Under Status, an icon will indicate the participant s role in the presentation. An icon of a screen indicates that the person is a presenter. An icon of a hand indicates that the person s hand is raised. 7. Hand Icon: Participants can click on this icon to raise their hand during the presentation. 8. Gear Icon: Allows you to lower hands for all participants, mute all participant microphones, or lock viewers. 9. Webcam Window: Provides a view of your webcam, and that of any participants. 10. Upload Icon: Upload a document or PowerPoint to present. 11. Chat Window: Allows participants to communicate via chat. Participants enter their message in the window on the bottom and click Send. As an instructor, you may prefer to have participants communicate via chat only while you use the microphone. Click on Options to send chats to individual users. 12. Invite a guest to join the meeting: Provides a link you can to participants to join the meeting. Participants do not need Blackboard to participate in the meeting, so this is an ideal option to bring in guest speakers. Important: The link will only work for the current meeting in session. 13. Door Icon: Exit the meeting. 3/19/2015 Teaching Technologies Documentation Series 5

6 If you are sharing a document during the meeting, you have two toolbars to help you navigate and annotate the content. To annotate your document as you present it, hover over the right side of the window to make the annotation options appear. At the bottom of the screen, use the arrows and zoom options to move through the pages of the presentation. Ending the Session When you have finished the session, be sure to click on the door icon to exit and close the session. Your recording will not complete until all participants have exited the meeting. If you or your students forget to log out, return to the Big Blue Button page and click on End Session & Kick All. This will remove all participants from the meeting. Accessing Recordings If you have recorded your meeting session, the recording should be available to you within several hours. To access it, enter your course and open Big Blue Button. A list of recordings will appear under the name of the meeting room. Click on the video link to open the recording. This will open a new window in your browser. The link to the recording can be shared elsewhere in your course or via . 3/19/2015 Teaching Technologies Documentation Series 6