Blackboard Collaborate: The view from the trenches

Nick BakerLaurie Freeman-GibbNobuko FujitaKathy PfaffJim StevensLorie Stolarchuk

1Blackboard Collaborate: The view from the trenches

Campus Technology Day16 May, 2013

1Session Overview 2What is Blackboard Collaborate?What can it do? New features in v12.5View from the inside perspectives of local usersWhat do you want to know? 2What is it?3

An online communication & collaboration suite that can be used as a: Synchronous (real-time) collaboration toolVirtual classroom/office Web conferencing system3What is it?4Does not replace CLEWIntegrates with CLEW to extend capabilitySupports Distance Education (DE) and Online Education (OE)Supports on-campus studentsCommunication and collaboration tool4Lets try it out!5Enter your name and press Log in

https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?miuid=C557ACA549743B69A8F6E11062DB6423&sid=2011271http://goo.gl/ClVef 5Some stats6Over 145 instructors and staff as moderators in the system208 individual rooms134 for formal courses74 virtual offices, other collaborations, sandboxes12 courses this termAll faculties582 recordings, 37Gb, 7000 viewsAvg. recording watched 8.5 timesAvg. length of session 1:10 minsAvg. size 63MBTo May 13 201367899New features since 201110In-built echo cancellingIncreased data storageMobile appsAndroid Google Play StoreiPhone, iPad, iPods iTunes Store

New features since 201111One-click control of access to toolsAutomatically created downloadable formats (MP3/MP4)In-built phone conferencing backup

Contacts and QuestionsBlackboard Collaborate online resources:http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com

ITS Helpdesk

Nick BakerActing Director, Office of Open LearningErie Hall 1111email: nbaker@uwindsor.caext. 4925

12Key features13Real-time audio and video communicationF2F or remote students simultaneously (large or small classes)Ability to record and playback, downloadInteractive whiteboard/presentation space Create on the fly, draw freehand, insert textPre-load PowerPoint, imagesText chatShow reactions via emoticonsBreakout rooms

13Key features14Application/desktop sharingWeb toursPolls and quizzesMobile appsDial-in if no internet connectionWorks on connection speeds down to dialup (28.8kbps)Software as a Service (Hosted SaaS)Data stored in Canada (Calgary)Very stable14What can it do for us?15Enables greater student-teacher, student-student interactionBreakout rooms facilitate inquiry/problem/ case-based learning & teachingEnables students to collaborate on projects when they cant physically get togetherRecord lectures for student reviewPre-record & use class time for active learningRecord live lectures in classCan be used to deliver lectures to small or large classes15What can it do for us?16Online assessment (formative & summative)Remote students can deliver presentationsOral examsMock interviewsRecord group collaboration sessions to see process as well as productPeer feedbackIncreases flexibilityStudents/faculty can use it wherever they have internet/computerInclement weather16Other uses17Desktop web conferencingWebinarsResearch/professional group meetingsOutreachRecruitmentCost savings (e.g. Reducing travel)Doesnt replace CLEW extends capabilities into real-time collaborationOn the saving money note, one department alone here that has intensive off-site teaching sessions has travel costs of $30k+ per semester for the distance courses from travel alone. If even some of the travel could be removed using this tool, potentially huge cost savings. 17The virtual classroom in action18

18How is it currently being used at UWindsor? 19Recording lectures (live and pre-recorded)Student review of lecturesDistance coursesBringing remote students into the on-campus classroomLive DE lectures/discussionsOn-campus student group projectsVirtual office hoursSession attendance went from 6000 (2007) to 24000 (2010)Business school alone saved $40k in one year! 19How is it currently being used at UWindsor? 20Remote student presentationsBackup for F2F classes/meetings Deliver classes remotely while awayStudents who usually travel joining in remotely during inclement weatherResearch collaborations20References21Carbonaro, M. et. al., 2008. Integration of e-learning technologies in an interprofessional health science course. Medical Teacher, 30(1): 25-33McBrien, J.L. et. al. 2009. Virtual Spaces: Employing a Synchronous Online Classroom to Facilitate Student Engagement in Online Learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 10(3). Online: http://www.irrodl.org.ezproxy.uwindsor.ca/index.php/irrodl/article/viewArticle/605 Little et. al. 2006. Using synchronous software in web-based nursing courses. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. 24(6): 317-325

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