Blackboard s Collaboration Tool Using Blackboard s Collaboration Tool, instructors can create and host a course-related chat session or virtual classroom in which students and instructors can interact and converse. In a chat, students and instructors may converse and share information in text format. This is "synchronous" communication, so everyone participating must be available at the same time. In a Virtual Classroom, instructors and students can converse in a chat room environment enhanced with tools, such as a white board, group browser, or question and answer area. Transcripts of chat and virtual classroom sessions can be recorded and archived for later use. SETUP 1. Roll your mouse over the blue plus-button that is located above the course navigation. From the pop-up menu, CLICK on CREATE TOOL LINK. 2. The ADD TOOL LINK box will appear. Give the tool a logical name and from the Type drop-down menu, choose COLLABORATION. 3. To make this tool accessible to students enrolled in your course, be sure to check the AVAILABLE TO USERS checkbox. Click SUBMIT when done.
4. The Collaboration Tool Link will be added to your course navigation. By clicking this Collaboration Tool Link, you are taken to the COLLABORATION SESSIONS page. A session is a particular chat room or virtual classroom. By default, you should see two pre-made collaboration sessions, Lecture Hall and Office Hours. Lecture Hall is a virtual classroom. Office Hours is a chat room. 5. To create a new Collaboration Session, click the CREATE COLLABORATION SESSION button. 6. The CREATE COLLABORATION SESSION page will appear. Fill out the following sections Section 1: Give your new session a logical name. Section 2: If you would like to set the session s dates of availability, check the Start After and End After checkboxes and assign your times and dates. Be sure to make this session available by selecting the Yes radio button. Section 3: Select the type of collaboration tool you want to make, Chat or Virtual Classroom.
OPENING A CHAT SESSION OR VIRTUAL CLASSROOM 1. To open a chat or virtual classroom session, click on a link to the session on the COLLABORATION SESSION page. 2. The Launching page will appear and a chat or virtual classroom window will attempt to open. However, you will need to DOWNLOAD A JAVA PLUG-IN for the feature to run correctly. Click the link that says Download the Java Plug-In. 3. The DOWNLOAD JAVA PLUG-IN page will appear. Follow the instructions to download and install the plug-in.
USING CHAT 1. When the chat window opens, you will be signed in as a moderator. The chat is composed of the following tools and areas Chat Tools Tools to control the chat session and customize the chat display. Recording Tools Tools to record and archive the chat. Participants Pane A list of students or other enrolled users who are signed and have chat enabled. Message Pane Where messages can be typed and read. Type your text in the text box next to the word Compose and click SUBMIT or ENTER on your keyboard. USING A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM 1. When the virtual classroom window opens, you will be signed in as a moderator. The virtual classroom is made of the following tools and areas. Classroom Tools Tools for controlling the classroom session and customizing display. Recording Tools Tools to record and archive the classroom session. Tools Panel An array of tools you can use to present and share information with students. In addition to a course map (navigation to locations in the Blackboard course, it includes a white board (for drawing and writing), a group browser (for navigating to websites together), and a question and answer section. Participants Pane Area where you will see those students who are logged into the virtual classroom.
Message Pane Where messages can be typed and read. Type your text in the text box next to the word Compose and click SUBMIT or ENTER on your keyboard. SENDING A PRIVATE MESSAGES IN A SESSION 1. In a chat and virtual classroom, private messages can be sent to individual students through selecting a participant from the list of participants in the list and clicking on the Private message button at the bottom of the Participants Pane.
2. A Compose Private Message Box will appear, in which you type your message and click submit. The message will be added to the message pane, but only you and the participant that you sent it to will actually be able to read it. Recording Chats or Virtual Classrooms 1. In order to save a text transcript of a session, you need to record the session by pressing the RECORD BUTTON. Archiving begins only at the point that the instructor clicks the record button; any messages posted before this point will not be archived. 2. You will be prompted to give your recording a name. Click OK when done. The session will record until you press the stop button or end the session.
Viewing and Sharing a Session Transcript 1. To view the transcript of a recorded chat or virtual classroom session, return to the Collaboration Sessions page and click on the double-down arrows next to the session associated with your recording. 2. A pop-up menu will appear. Select RECORDINGS. 3. A Session Recordings page will appear and show you all the recordings associated with your session along with the date and duration of the recording. 4. Clicking on the recorded name of a session recording will bring a transcript of the session on the screen. 5. Students will be able to access and view session transcripts through Blackboard through a similar process from their view of the Collaboration Session page. 6. Alternatively, you can copy and paste the contents of the session message pane in a word document, which can be shared with your students through a link in Blackboard.