Blackboard Collaborate

Blackboard Collaborate - Discontinuation Date:  December 20, 2024

As we continue to research new products and technology tools to enhance teaching, learning, and research, we must make difficult decisions to discontinue products and tools that no longer meet our needs. As such, access to Collaborate will end on June 30, 2024.

Why did we end our Collaborate contract?
Collaborate was recently purchased by Class Technologies and is no longer included as part of our Blackboard LMS contract. Class Technologies will eventually end support for Collaborate and is no longer adding new features to Collaborate. (New features and advancements will be added to the signature product for Class Technologies, Class for Zoom.) In addition, Collaborate usage at A&T has decreased over the years as more enhanced tools have become available. (Currently, only 24 fall courses are using Collaborate. In the spring, 100 courses used Collaborate.)

Can I still use Collaborate?
Although our contract ended on June 30, 2024, you will be able to use Collaborate until December 20, 2024. You will not be able to use Collaborate beyond the Fall 2024 semester. After December 20th, Collaborate links to meetings and recordings as well as Collaborate course menu items (i.e. Collaborate, Collaborate Sessions, Collaborate Ultra, etc.) will no longer work. Course menu items should be removed from future courses.

Collaborate Recordings
After December 20, 2024, Collaborate recordings will no longer be available to you or to your students via the LMS or any other Collaborate dashboard. We strongly recommend that you begin downloading the videos that you would like to save. If desired, the videos that you download from Collaborate can be uploaded to Mediasite and shared with others. For guidance on downloading videos and using Mediasite, follow this Downloading Collaborate Recordings guide.

What other collaboration tools can be used for course related meetings and lectures?
Two collaboration tools are available:  Zoom and Class for Zoom

Zoom can be used for meetings, lectures, one-to-one sessions, and other collaborative activities. The Zoom Meetings tool is also available via Blackboard. To request a university-issued Zoom account, contact Client Technology Services at 336-334-7195.

Class for Zoom is a new collaborative tool that can be used for virtual synchronous classroom meetings. A university-issued Zoom account is required to create sessions using Class for Zoom. Class for Zoom can be accessed via Blackboard or at ncat.class.com.

Who should I contact if I need assistance or have additional questions?
Contact the ITTD team (336-295-4499) if you need assistance with downloading your Collaborate recordings, uploading your recordings into Mediasite, or sharing Mediasite videos with your students.

Helpful Resources

Downloading Collaborate Recordings
Uploading Collaborate Videos to Mediasite
Sharing Mediasite Videos via Blackboard

 

Collaborate Ultra Tips

Browsers
Google Chrome is the preferred browser when using Collaborate Ultra. 

Note:
If using a mobile iOS device, the default browser is most likely Safari. Ask students to download the Chrome app in advance. They will copy the Collaborate Link from Safari, open the Chrome app, paste the link in Chrome to join the Collaborate session.

Moderators (Instructors) should not use mobile devices especially if intending to use the  Share Content feature.

  • Course Menu > Tools 
  • Control Panel > Course Tools > Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
  • Course Menu, once added as a Tool link.
  • To add: Click  + icon located above the Course ID
  • Enter  Name  (e.g. Collaborate Ultra)
  • in Type, click the down-arrow; select Blackboard Collaborate Ultra

 

For easy access by students, click Available to Users, then  Submit. 

  • Log into Blackboard
  • Open a course
  • Locate Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (see possible locations under Access above)
  • Click the top-most link with your Course ID - Course Room  (i.e.  It is NOT necessary to  Create a Session).
  • From the right panel, check the Session Settings. Most likely, you will not need to make any modifications, but if you do, click the Save tab, which is located at the bottom-right of the panel. This is a one-time setup. From then on, simply click the Course ID /Course Name - Course Room then Join Course Room to launch Collaborate Ultra.
  • Always check audio and video settings.
  • Make sure that the microphone is ON especially when recording a lecture with no students to let you know that they cannot hear you.

For your session to be recorded, you must click Start Recording.  Recordings are posted into the course soon after a session ends. You must Stop Recording and Leave Session for the recording to be processed and posted.

Viewing a Recording
Open your course

  • In Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, click the three-line icon (Menu) located above your Course ID/Name - Course Room
  • Select Recordings
  • Click Recording Name, then Watch Now

Collaborate Ultra Help (for Moderators/Instructors)
Collaborate Ultra Help (for Participants/Students)

Blackboard Collaborate Support
For questions about using Blackboard Collaborate features, contact Blackboard Collaborate Support at
(877) 382-2293