The Collaboration Session page is used to manage the Collaboration Tools available in the Blackboard Learning System. From this page the Instructor can access all of the Collaboration Sessions for the course, including those that have already taken place and are archived and those that are scheduled for the future. Instructors can also schedule new Collaboration Sessions and make changes to those already scheduled from this page.

Each course and organization begins with two default Collaboration Sessions. The Lecture Hall is the default Virtual Classroom, and Office Hours is the default Lightweight Chat. These default sessions can be removed. Removing a session is irreversible.  Instructors create new Collaboration Sessions using the Virtual Classroom or the Chat from the Create Collaboration Session page. Instructors can schedule sessions for specific dates and times. The Create Collaboration Session page and Modify Collaboration Session page function in a similar manner.

To Create Collaboration Session

From Control Panel

1. Click Collaboration in Course Tools.

2. Click Create Collaboration Session   on the Collaboration Sessions page.

3. Enter name for session (default name for chat is course number).

4. Determine a start and end date for session, if desired, this is not required, if no date is selected then the session is always open and available for users.

5. Select Yes to makes the session available.

6. Choose collaboration tool for this session either Virtual Classroom or Chat.

Modify Collaboration Session

From Control Panel

1. Click Collaboration in Course Tools.

2. Click Manage next to a Collaboration Session.

3. Modify Session Name, Schedule Availability, Collaboration Tool.

4. Click Submit.

5. Click OK to confirm update and return to Collaboration Sessions Main Page.

Remove Collaboration Session

From Control Panel

1. Click Collaboration in Course Tools.

2. Click Remove  next to a Collaboration Session.

3. Click Delete to remove session.

NOTE:  This step can not be undone!

Recording Collaboration Sessions

Virtual Classroom and Chat sessions can be recorded and archived. Recordings can be started and stopped, as well as paused and un-paused by the Instructor during the session.

Start:  Click Start to begin recording a session. The user will be prompted to name the Recording.

Pause:  Click Pause to pause a Recording once it has started. Click this button again to u-pause the Recording and begin recording again. Pause and un-pause will be marked and timestamped in the Recording.

Stop: Click Stop to end recording the session. When Stop is selected the Recording is completed and a stop marker and time/date stamp will be included at the end of the Recording.

Bookmark:  Click Bookmark to insert a bookmark anywhere in the Recording of the session.
Recording The Whiteboard

The Snapshoot button in the Whiteboard Tool bar is used to record the Whiteboard in the Recording. The Instructor clicks the Snapshot button to record an image of the Whiteboard. The image of the Whiteboard in the Recording corresponds with when it was recorded. The Snapshot button cannot be activated unless the session is being recorded.

Virtual Classroom

Before using the Virtual Classroom in Blackboard, you should consider the following:

• The Virtual Classroom is a Java application that may be slow downloading.
• Students will need to have Java enabled browsers.
• Since the Virtual Classroom functions in real time, students will have to be online at the scheduled timed in order to use it.
• It may be difficult to manage a discussion with a very large class.
• If your class has 15 or more students, it is probably a good idea to break them into smaller groups for discussion.
• Virtual Classroom functions more smoothly on a computer running the Windows operating system with Internet Explorer and Firefox. While the Virtual Classroom does work on OS 10.3 and Safari, students using older Macs may have difficulty with Virtual Classroom.
• Pop up will need to be unblocked from VCCS websites, because the Virtual Classroom session will open in a new window
• If you have a student who requires accessibility capability, a link is available to access an accessible chat area.

The following are the basic components of the Virtual Classroom:

Menu Bar: Allows the Session Admin to control the Virtual Classroom.  All users have access to the options on the Menu Bar. The functions available in the Menu Bar include:

View: Choose an option for viewing Personal Messages in the Virtual Classroom.

Clear: Clear the session display.

End:  Closes session and expels all users

Breakouts:  Create a breakout room for a group of users.

Classroom Tool Box: Includes all of the tools used during the Virtual Classroom session. The Classroom Tool box appears on the left side of the Virtual Classroom.

To begin using items in the Tool box click the name of the tool.

Whiteboard: Enables users to present different types of information as they would on a blackboard in a classroom.

Group Browser:  Enables users to collaboratively browse the Web.

Course Map:  Enables users to browse the Course Contents while they are in a Virtual Classroom.

Ask Question:  Enables users to ask questions during the session.

Question Inbox:  Enables users to answer questions submitted by other users during a session.

Chat: Allows users to compose messages, raise their hands to ask questions, and activate private messages.

Begin a Virtual Classroom Session:

From Course Navigation or Tools Menu

1. Go to the Communication Area.
2. Click Collaboration.
3. Click the Join button next to Virtual Classroom.
4. A new window will open with the Blackboard Virtual Classroom enabled

Tips:

You may get a message saying that your HTML page requires a version of Java different from the one your browser is currently using. A new browser window is required. Click Yes to enable the browser to receive the Virtual Classroom.

You can access the Virtual Classroom through the Communications area or add a Virtual Classroom link to the Course Menu.

If you would like to use synchronous, on-line meetings in your course, you might consider using eMeeting instead. eMeeting is software specifically designed for online meetings. It allows you to use PowerPoint presentations, surf the web, write on an electronic whiteboard, share files and speak to other participants- all over the web.

Download the Java Plugin

When you try to enter the Lite Chat, you may get an error message indicating that you need to download a Java Plugin to run the Lite Chat. To download the plugin, follow the directions below.

Windows Users

1. Click the Get Java Plug-in for Windows link below.
2. Save the file.
3. Navigate to the saved file and double-click on it to run the Java Plug-in installer.
4. The installer will launch.
5. Accept the license agreement.
6. Select Typical and click Next to continue.
7. The installer will finish.
8. Click OK below to launch the Chat tool.

Get Java Plug-in for Windows Vista, XP, 2000, 2003 Server (File Size 7.1MB)

Macintosh OS X Users
No plug-in is needed for Macintosh OS X

Macintosh OS8 and 9 Users
Click the OK button to go back and launch a compatible Collaboration Tool.