Engaging online learners through synchronous communication: Advanced features of Blackboard Collaborate Virtual Classroom/Office Nick Baker, Nobuko Fujita Office of Open Learning Werner Keller Odette School of Business Simon duToit Outstanding Scholars

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

What is Blackboard Collaborate? Virtual classroom Web conferencing system Online collaboration suite “Super Skype” 3

Why use it? Synchronous, interactive online education –Deeper learning –Develop professional skills –Increased flexibility (students & faculty) e.g. Snow days Support distance students (meetings) Recording classes (online and on campus) Blended classes Virtual office hours Group meetings/collaboration (students, research) 4

Key features Whiteboard (presentations, images, drawing etc.) Application/desktop sharing Web tours Polls and quizzes Mobile apps Works on poor internet connections Dial-in if no internet connection Hosted off campus –Data stored in Canada (Calgary) Very stable 5

Engaging online students Enables real-time student-teacher & student- student interaction –Breakout rooms facilitate inquiry/problem/ case- based learning & teaching –Enables students to collaborate on projects when they can’t physically get together Online assessment (formative & summative) –Remote students can deliver class presentations / posters –Oral exams –Mock interviews –Record group collaboration sessions to see process as well as product –Peer feedback 6

Online and on campus Record lectures for student review –Pre-record & use class time for active learning –Stream live lectures in class (and record them) –Can be used to deliver lectures to small or large classes Increases flexibility –Students/faculty can use it wherever they have internet access –Inclement weather –Reduce travel or run classes while travelling 7

Other uses Desktop web conferencing Facilitating webinars/ guest speakers/ community events MOOCs Research/professional group meetings Outreach Recruitment Cost savings (e.g. Reducing travel) Extends capabilities of CLEW/Bb Learn for real- time collaboration (does not replace the LMS) 8

Let’s try it out! 9

Start the meeting May need to download the Collaborate Launcher (should automatically start) Your computer will download a ‘meeting.collab’ file May need to accept download if a security box comes up Should autorun but may need to press ‘OK’ or ‘Run’ 10

Loading... Takes a while to load...be patient (don’t try to load more than once!) 11

Select your internet speed In class or on wireless router select “Wireless 300k” from dropdown and press OK. If on a slower connection, choose ISDN or Dialup option. Will take a few mins to load 12

Should see this - PC/Mac 13

Should see this - iOS/Android

Video/audio Has Audio and Video capabilities (up to 6 people at once, main image switches to camera of whoever is speaking) Press Talk for audio; default is to leave sound off Can also dial in if no internet (Calgary number) 15

Video/audio Run Audio Setup Wizard each time you change something e.g. Location, computer, connection Run it if you can’t hear speaker or sounds 16

Whiteboard panel: where the action is! 17

Access through CLEW: Go to Virtual Classroom 18

Access through Bb Learn: Go to Virtual Classroom 19

Create a Virtual Classroom Session

View Available Sessions

Click on name of session More to come

Join as Moderator of a Session

Loading…

Audio/Video Press “Video” to turn on video Press “Talk” to turn on mic/audio

Audio/video check Check audio is working Check video is working

Load your slides Advance and navigate through slides

Record your session

How students access recordings 29

Breakout Rooms

Enter breakout room name

Return students to Main Room when done

Application/Screen Sharing Click on icon to launch screen sharing, or…

Tools>Application Sharing>Start Sharing…

Select the application that you want to share

Stop sharing when you’re done!

Drawing/Annotating Click on pen (3 rd from top) to draw Click to insert New Page

Polling and Quizzing Question: Have you used Blackboard Collaborate Virtual Classroom before?

Blackboard Collaborate Plan lets you prepare the content (slides, music, video, images, quizzes etc.) of a virtual classroom session ahead of time. During a session, selecting a session plan item runs an action in Blackboard Collaborate Lesson Planning

Plan Download available for Windows/Mac Sample session plans Click on File > Open> Session Plan

Lesson Planning Plan your virtual classroom session ahead of time

Example use: Law & Business Administration Student2 on mobile Student4 on tablet

Example: UWill Discover! URC MOOC

SUMMARY… 44

Summary Bb Collaborate has many uses –Online classes –Blended classes –Collaboration/meetings –Community events –Conferences/Webinars –Guest speakers Advanced features increase engagement, collaboration, and learning Replicate many of the features of a face to face classroom

Contact Nick Baker Director, Office of Open Learning Erie Hall, Rm ext Nobuko Fujita Online Learning Specialist, Office of Open Learning Erie Hall, Rm ext. 2105

Connect with us In person… –Erie Hall Phone… –Ext 2008 On the web: –Office of Open Learning Official Website : –Open Learning Windsor Blog: Social media: –Facebook: 47