Blackboard Collaborate
The Collaborate Tools promote a depth and breadth to the online teaching and learning experience. The use of Collaborate tools for either synchronous or asynchronous content delivery is yet another way to teach to different intelligences and learning styles.
There are several tools available for use in Drexel Learn, all available from the tools menu in your Drexel Learn courses:
- Blackboard Collaborate – This is a synchronous, virtual classroom. Its features include multi-way audio and video, easy upload of PowerPoint presentations, application sharing, polling, and more—all designed to make the online classroom experience as robust as possible. Every session may be archived for review/reuse. Note that this tool is best used in a wired environment and can be broadband-intensive.
- Voice Tools – You can create and upload podcasts, post and listen to voice recordings within threaded discussion boards, send voice e-mail and even hold synchronous group chats.
All these tools are available for instructor use.
Troubleshooting
If you are having issues launching Collaborate sessions on your computer, you should try the following steps to resolve the issue:
- Go to Collaborate's First Time Users page. Make sure you see two green checkmarks for your operating system and Java version. If not, follow the prompts to resolve those issues.
- Associate JNLP files with Java Web Start. This is different for PCs and Macs.
- PC (Windows) Computers [PDF] [Video]
- Mac Computers [PDF] [Video]
- If you are still having issues, contact the Online Learning Team at 215-895-1224 or olt@drexel.edu.
Loading Content
There is no longer the ability to preload content, like PowerPoint presentations into Collaborate sessions. In order to work around this, you can follow the steps outlined in the Loading Slide Into Collaboarte (PDF) document.
Training
If you are looking for information about Wimba,
Manuals for presenters and participants are still available at Wimba.com.