Connecting to Blackboard Collaborate

Transcription

1 Using Blackboard Collaborate Summer 2015 Thank you for your interest in the ISSP Online Tutoring pilot project. Before you register, please be sure you have access to a computer that meets the necessary technical specifications, that you have an active Lehman account and access to the CUNY portal. We hope you ll gain much from this additional support! 1. To receive online social sciences and humanities tutoring, you will be given access to the online Blackboard Collaborate tutoring site (instructions for accessing this follow below) and you will be given an appointment time and date, and the name of your tutor. the issp (iss.program@lehman.cuny.edu), you will be sent a link which you will click on to access the online tutoring session. 2. Before meeting with the tutor, review the instructions to check that your computer meets the necessary technical requirements and to install any plug-ins you may need to access Blackboard s Collaborate feature. We recommend that you log on to your session at least minutes before hand to make sure your computer is technically ready (test your microphone and speaker). 3. During the session, please be prepared to provide the tutor with the following information: The name of the course for which you d like help A description of the assignment or issue you would like to work on with the tutor. If your professor has provided written guidelines, please have those available. If you have them available electronically, share that with the tutor. 4. To communicate with the tutor, you will have access to the following: Video chat-with your webcam and microphone, you and your tutor will be able to see each other Share screen-if necessary, the tutor can give you permission to share your screen so that he/she can see work on your screen. Transfer files-if necessary, the tutor can give you permission to upload files you d like the tutor to see. Whiteboard-you can write and draw on the Whiteboard to display content Finally, please note that your tutor may create an audio recording of the session, which we can review as we prepare other tutors to work online. Connecting to Blackboard Collaborate Java. You must have Java and Java Web Start installed on your computer. Best browsers used for tutoring purposes are Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari. For Mac OS X 10.6 and below, use the Software Update feature available under the Apple menu to check that you have the most up-to-date version of 1

2 Java 6 for your Mac. For Java versions 6 and below, Apple supplies their own version of Java. For PC: At some point during this process, you may be asked to enable popups. To enable pop-ups, refer to the instruction on your screen or check search engine such as Google to for the instruction for your operating system. Go to from your web browser. If you want to check whether your PC has Java already installed, click Do I have Java?. Click on Verify Java Version. Click Ok. A following message should appear checking the version of Java on your PC. 2

3 If you don t have Java or want to update, click Free Java Download at Click Agree and Start Free Download. Click Install. 3

4 Click Next. If you do not want to add Browser Add-on from Ask, make sure you uncheck the box, which asks you to install it. You have successfully installed Java. Click Close. 4

5 LOGGING ON TO BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE Click on the link you receive via and if you have not previously used Blackboard Collaborate, follow the instructions to install Collaborate on your computer. Select your operating system (Windows or Mac) and then click on Download. You will see the Downloading Installer Message. Click on Save File and note the location on your computer or portable drive to which you are saving the file. Click on Join. 5

6 Save the file join.jnlp in a convenient location (eg. Desktop) and then Run it (Try to do this minutes prior to your session). It should be on the downloads bar at the bottom of your screen if you are using the Google Chrome browser. Click on Next Click Install. You should see this screen 6

7 If asked, ENABLE POPUPS IN YOUR BROWSER The session should start automatically, if not, click to launch the session manually. Click Allow if you are asked about Blackboard Collaborate accessing your computer. Choose your connection speed and click Ok. 7

8 You are now successfully connected to BC and should be able to see your tutor online. COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR TUTOR VIA VIDEO, CHATTING, ETC. You should be able to see the video image of your tutor on left top corner. If you have received the permission to talk and share your video image, click on talk and video buttons. You should be able to see and hear your tutor. 8

9 You will communicate with your tutor via video; however, if you should lose video capability, you can also chat with your tutor. To chat, go to the box on your screen that looks like the one below. Enter your message in the white space and press enter. You should see your message post to the tutor. You can change your emotion. If you have to step away, click step away button. Remember to click it again when you return. 9

10 Use raise hand button to get your tutor s attention. USING THE TOOL BAR TO WRITE ON THE WHITEBOARD. There is a tool bar next to video and chat option. The first button allows you to select a location on the whiteboard. After selecting an area, you can delete text you or images you have written/drawn by clicking the delete button to erase. You can copy text or images by clicking control and c at the same time on your keyboard. After this, you can paste what you have copied by clicking control and v at the same time. You can point to items of interest on the page using different icons. Select the icon you want to use. You may only have one icon showing at a time. 10

11 You can select a pen tool to draw or write with your mouse on the whiteboard. Color, stroke size, and opacity can be changed using the tool bar below. You can select a highlighter tool to highlight. Color, stroke size and opacity can be changed using the tool bar below. 11

12 You can create a text label on the blank space to right. Color, opacity, etc, can be changed using the tool bar below. You can draw a color filled rectangle or a color filled ellipse. You can change the color and opacity. You can use this function to draw your tutor's attention to a particular part of the screen. 12

13 You can draw rectangle or ellipse. Color, stroke size and opacity can be changed using the tool bar below. You can use this function to box or circle a section on the whiteboard. You can draw a straight line. Color, stroke size and opacity can be changed using the tool bar below. TAKING A SCREEN SHOT Select this button to take screen shot of a screen other than the Blackboard Collaboration session. For example, you can take a screen shot of a website and share it in Blackboard Collaborate. This function can be used to share the screen shot of a website or a program your tutor does not have. After clicking the screen shot button, you will see the Blackboard Collaboration session minimizing and an option to take the screen shot in the middle. Click Ok to take the screen shot. Click with delay and it will count 10 seconds 13

14 before taking the screen shot. You can click refresh to refresh the screen or cancel. Once you have taken the screen shot, Blackboard Collaboration session will pop up again. You will see the screen shot you have just taken. You will need to click on the spot you want the screen shot to be shown. You can insert clip art. CLIP ART EXITING BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE You can exit Collaborate by clicking the X on the right hand side of your toolbar or by logging out of Blackboard. 14