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Blackboard Collaborate is a real-time video conferencing tool that lets you add files, share applications, and use a virtual whiteboard to interact. Collaborate Ultra opens right in your browser, so you don’t have to install any software to join a session. This guide will help you get started.

Get Started To access Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, click on Tools in the course menu. On the right, click on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra:

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Tool InterfaceThe tool has two areas: Sessions and Recordings.

In the Sessions area, click on session links to access scheduled meetings:

The following features are also available in this area:

• Search Sessions (on the right of the Sessions bar). Select Search to filter the meeting list. Type a specific session name or date.

• Sessions Help (underneath of the search icon).

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• Show Sessions Menu (find all sessions in the course).

In the Recordings area, you can find all previously recorded sessions in the course.

There are also search, help and show options in this area, similar to the Sessions area.

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View RecordingsRecorded sessions are saved as MP4s and include audio, any shared content or active speaker video, and captions that are entered during the live session.

You can view recordings from any course you are enrolled in. If your instructor has made the recording available for download, you can click on the icon to download it.

Meeting InterfaceThe Collaborate meeting interface is organized into three areas: a Media space, the Session menu, and a Collaborate panel.

Media SpaceThe Media space in Collaborate is where the content of the session is displayed. Content you share is automatically the main focus of your screen. The pic-ture-in-picture shows you who is speaking.

Tools that appear in the Media space relate directly to what is happening in the session at that moment. You know immediately what you can do.

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If you’re not sharing content, the focus is on participant profiles and video. You can switch between a grid view and a view that follows the speaker. With the follow-the-speaker view, the focus moves to the current speaker as the discus-sion unfolds.

Note: The Ultra experience switches to follow-the-speaker view automatically when there are more than five participants.

Grid view

Follow-the-Speaker view

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The following tools are available in the Media space:

Session MenuThe Session menu opens a collection of high level session actions and informa-tion. Open it using the Session menu button at the top left of the screen.

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Tools and features you use only once or twice a session are grouped here:

• Find details about the session.

• Moderators and presenters can record sessions.

• Connect your phone for audio.

• Get help or report an issue.

The following tools are available in the Session menu:

Collaborate PanelThe Collaborate panel takes your session experience to the next level. Here you can engage other participants with all the great collaboration tools.

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• Chat with everyone in the session or privately with other moderators.

• View participants and their roles.

• Moderators and presenters can share content or start polling.

• Set your personal settings.

The following tools are available in the Collaborate panel:

Audio and Video Set UpYou must give the browser permission to use audio and video so that you are seen and heard when you participate in a session. You’ll be asked to do this when you first join a session or when you first go to share your audio or video.

You can set up audio and video at any time in My Settings:

1. Open the Collaborate panel and select My Settings.

2. Select Set Up Your Camera and Microphone. (Note: You can also use your phone for audio.)

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3. Choose the microphone you want to use. Collaborate tells you that you sound great when it is receiving your audio. Select Yes, it’s working to proceed.

4. Choose the camera you want to use. Collaborate tells you that you look great when it is receiving your video. Select Yes, it’s working to proceed.

By default, you are hidden and muted after you complete the setup. Select the microphone and camera icons to begin full meeting participation. You can ad-just your speaker and microphone volume any time in My Settings.

Let others hear and see youYou can select the microphone and video camera icons any time during a meet-ing to turn them on or off. You can also use your keyboard: Press Alt + M to turn your microphone on and off. Press Alt + C to turn your camera on and off.

The microphone automatically turns on after you enable it, but you will get to preview how you’ll look on screen before sharing your video.

Follow the speakerAs the discussion unfolds, the person speaking appears in the center of the screen. Select Grid View to see more than one participant. (Note: You can only switch views when using Chrome.)

Microphones appear next to any participants who have their microphone or phone audio turned on. A dark microphone is used to represent the current speaker. It moves to the current speaker as the discussion unfolds.

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Know when you are “on air”Collaborate tells you when others in the session can see your video. If you see your video with an eye, others see your video in the center of their screen. If you see an eye while content is shared, others see your video as their pic-ture-in-picture.

Add a Profile Picture1. Open the Collaborate panel and select My Settings.

2. Point to the avatar and select it.

3. Upload any image or use your device camera to take a photo. You can choose to use this profile picture for every session.

4. Adjust the image area.

5. Select I Like It!

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Call into a SessionYou can use the telephony feature to communicate with other users. As a tele-phony user, you can use all Blackboard Collaborate features and communicate with all users in the session.

The Teleconference ServiceTeleconference phone numbers and PINs are automatically generated during session creation. Anyone can dial into the session and initiate the connection between the session and the teleconference bridge. (Note: Long distance and international calling charges may apply.)

How to Call Into a SessionOpen the Session menu and select Use your phone for audio. Call the number listed and enter the personal identification number (PIN).

You are given a unique PIN to help the session identify you. When you enter the PIN, the audio from your phone is paired with your avatar. This helps everyone keep track of who is speaking.

Each PIN is unique to an individual session and a user in that session. This means that the PIN you see only works for you in that session. You are not able to use the PIN in another session or share your PIN with another user. PINs stop working when the session ends.

You must be joined to a session on a browser to use your phone.

You have access to all the same tools in your session. Your microphone changes to a phone. Others see a phone icon by your name in the Participants panel.

You are muted when you first call in. Turn your audio on and off in your brows-er by clicking the phone icon. Or use your keyboard and press Alt + M to turn your phone audio on and off.

You can still use the mute on your phone. Just make sure the audio is turned on in your browser if you want others to hear you.

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Session Best PracticesJoin the session early. Give yourself time to learn what you can and can’t do in the session. Add a profile picture and set up your audio and video. If you are presenting, make sure you can share content. Practice using the tools.

Be on time. If you can’t be early, be on time. Let the moderator know if you are going to be late or absent. Everyone can set notifications to alert them when someone has joined the session and may see who is joining when.

Introduce yourself. Don’t assume anyone automatically recognizes your voice. State your name the first few times you speak. Let your instructor know who is participating. Give everyone a chance to know you.

Make eye contact. If you are sharing video, look at the camera and not the ses-sion. It may feel weird but it shows you are engaged in the session. If you need to multi-task during the session, shut your video off to avoid looking distracted.

Mute yourself when not speaking. Nothing is more distracting than back-ground noise. For example, typing or a private conversation. It can also give the impression that you aren’t paying attention.

Be professional. You may be joining the session from somewhere private but you are not alone. You are face-to-face with your peers, instructors, and guest experts. Make a good impression. Participate. Don’t talk over someone. Raise your hand if there is no opening to speak. Type questions and feedback in the chat. Pick your best profile picture. Watch your mannerisms and facial expressions.

Other Helpful TipsPlease use the tips below to troubleshoot any issues that you may encounter.

1. Use a headset/microphone, not the internal PC microphone or microphone built into a web camera.

2. Use a wired internet connection. A wireless connection is not recommend-ed for Blackboard Collaborate Ultra.

3. Do not run other applications in the background during meetings, partic-ularly web applications (email, chat, etc.)These compete for CPU and client bandwidth to the internet which can cause problems.

4. Mute your microphone after connecting your audio or you will transmit audio whether you’re talking or not.

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5. For the best experience, use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Firefox.

6. Monitor your network connection by moving the mouse pointer over your name on the participants list. A WIFI icon will appear that shows your con-nection status. The number of bars in the symbol will tell you if the connec-tion is great, okay, or poor.

More troubleshooting topics can be found at en-us.help.blackboard.com/Col-lagorate/Ultra/Participant/050_Support.

Bb Student and Blackboard Collaborate UltraYou can join Collaborate with the Ultra experience sessions from your mobile device. Use the Bb Student app to join your session.

Find more information about Collaborate in Bb Student here: https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Bb_Student/020_Quick_Start and https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Bb_Student/Collaborate_in_Bb_Student/Steps_to_Join_Col-laborate_Session.

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Browser SupportBlackboard Collaborate Ultra is based on modern web technologies including HTML 5 and WebRTC. You don’t need to install Java or a launcher. For the best experience, use Google Chrome.

To see if your browser is up to date, try ODU’s Browser Check.

Find more information about Blackboard Collaborate Ultra for participants here: https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Participant.

Adapted from Blackboard Collaborate: Ultra Experience Help.