Blackboard Collaborate
What is Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Edition is an interactive web conferencing tool, also referred to as a virtual classroom environment. It is an online environment that can be used to facilitate virtual events such as lectures, meetings, presentations, workshop, and virtual office hours.
What is the purpose of Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing supports audio and video communication for learning and collaboration. It can be used:
- to provide lectures or other presentations
- for virtual guest lecturers and collaborations with external colleagues
- for distance education
- to conduct virtual meetings
- to conduct office hours or interviews
- synchronously or asynchronously
Where to find Support
Tool Evaluation
Functionality
| Rating | Rationale |
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ScaleCollaborate has a standard capacity of 250 that can be scaled up to 500. Different sessions could be created for smaller sub-groups or communities of practice. |
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Ease of UseCollaborate UE has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and personalize. |
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Tech Support/Help AvailabilityWestern technical support/help documentation is readily available. See the Blackboard Collaborate UE page in OWL Help Wiki or contact the Helpdesk. |
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HypermedialityCollaborate UE allows users to communicate through different channels (audio, video, whiteboard, screensharing) and allows for non-sequential, flexible/adaptive engagement with material. |
Accessibility
| Rating | Rationale |
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AODA FriendlyCollaborate UE meets accessibility guidelines (AODA and the W3C WCAG 2.0 standards). Note that moderators can assign a participant to be a captioner to provide viewers with captions. |
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User-focused participationCollaborate UE is designed to address the needs of diverse users, their various literacies, and capabilities, thereby widening opportunities for participation in learning. |
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Required EquipmentProper use of Collaborate UE requires, at a minimum, audio. For optimal use, participants are encouraged to use a headset (headphones and microphone) and a built-in or external video camera. |
Technical
| Rating | Rationale |
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OWL IntegrationCollaborate UE is already embedded and fully integrated into OWL. See How to Use Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing section above for instructions on set up. |
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Operating SystemsUsers can effectively utilize Collaborate UE with any standard, up-to-date operating system (i.e. Windows, MacOS, etc.) |
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Web BrowserInstructors and students can effectively utilize Collaborate UE with any standard, up-to-date web browser (i.e. Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge etc.). Blackboard Collaborate browser support |
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Additional Tech RequirementsUsers do not need to download additional software or browser extensions. |
Mobile Design
| Rating | Rationale |
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Mobile Operating SystemsBlackboard Collaborate has a web application that is available through web browsers on all mobile devices. |
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Mobile FunctionalityBasic features of the main tool are functional on the mobile app but advanced features are limited.
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Offline AccessThe platform cannot be used in any capacity offline. |
Usage and Account Set Up
| Rating | Rationale |
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Sign Up/Sign InUse of Collaborate UE does not require the creation of an external account or additional login beyond a Western Identity and access to OWL. |
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Cost of UseAll aspects of Collaborate UE can be used free of charge to Western account holders. Western has a license allowing campus-wide use. Non-Western participants can join a session created and hosted by a Western moderator at no cost. |
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Archiving, Saving, and Exporting DataUsers can record and save sessions. In session, click More Tools button and select Start/Stop Recording. Recordings can be viewed or downloaded. |
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Data Privacy and OwnershipUsers maintain ownership and copyright of their intellectual property/data; the moderator can keep data private and decide if/how data is to be shared. |
Social Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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CollaborationCollaborate UE has the capacity to support a community of learning through both asynchronous and synchronous opportunities for communication, interactivity, and transfer of meaning between users. |
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User AccountabilityInstructors cannot control participant anonymity (participants can join under any name) but Collaborate UE provides some solution for holding participants accountable for their actions (participants can be removed from session by moderator) |
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DiffusionStudent familiarity with Collaborate UE is likely mixed, some will lack basic technical competence with its functions. |
Instructor Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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FacilitationCollaborate UE has easy-to-use features that would significantly improve an instructor’s ability to be present with students via active management, monitoring, and engagement. |
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CustomizationCollaborate UE is adaptable to its environment: easily customized to suit the classroom context and targeted learning outcomes. |
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Learning AnalyticsInstructor can monitor students’ performance on limited measures (i.e. conversation, feedback, etc.) |
Cognitive Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s)Collaborate UE enhances engagement in targeted cognitive task(s) that were once overly complex or inconceivable through other means. |
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Higher Order ThinkingUse of Collaborate UE easily facilitates students to exercise higher order thinking skills (given consideration to design, facilitation, and direction from instructor) |
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Feedback on LearningThrough Collaborate UE, students can regularly receive formative feedback on learning (i.e. they can track their performance, monitor their improvement, test their knowledge, etc.) |
Security and Privacy
This tool has been formally reviewed by Western’s Technology Risk Assessment Committee
Security and Privacy Flags
Information Collection
- Application collects information that could identify the user specifically (email address, class schedule, etc..)
EULA
- Application's Terms of Conditions or End User License Agreement poses a risk of binding the institution to an agreement thereby requiring legal counsel to review the application. However, this is mitigated as it has undergone legal review during the Technology Risk Assessment process.
Last Updated: September 23, 2021
Rubric
The eLearning Toolkit Evaluations are made available under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence
Feedback
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Topic at a Glance
Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing is an interactive web conferencing tool used to create audio and video presentations anytime and anywhere.
