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Blackboard Collaborate: The view from the trenches. Nick Baker Laurie Freeman-Gibb Nobuko Fujita Kathy Pfaff Jim Stevens Lorie Stolarchuk. Campus Technology Day 16 May, 2013. Session Overview . What is Blackboard Collaborate? What can it do? New features in v12.5
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Blackboard Collaborate: The view from the trenches Nick Baker Laurie Freeman-Gibb Nobuko Fujita Kathy Pfaff Jim Stevens Lorie Stolarchuk Campus Technology Day 16 May, 2013
Session Overview • What is Blackboard Collaborate? • What can it do? • New features in v12.5 • View from the inside – perspectives of local users • What do you want to know?
What is it? An online communication & collaboration suite that can be used as a: • Synchronous (real-time) collaboration tool • Virtual classroom/office • Web conferencing system
What is it? • Does not replace CLEW • Integrates with CLEW to extend capability • Supports Distance Education (DE) and Online Education (OE) • Supports on-campus students
Let’s try it out! http://goo.gl/ClVef Enter your name and press “Log in” https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?miuid=C557ACA549743B69A8F6E11062DB6423&sid=2011271
Some stats • Over 145 instructors and staff as moderators in the system • 208 individual rooms • 134 for formal courses • 74 virtual offices, other collaborations, sandboxes • 12 courses this term • All faculties • 582 recordings, 37Gb, 7000 views • Avg. recording watched 8.5 times • Avg. length of session ≈1:10 mins • Avg. size 63MB
New features since 2011 • In-built echo cancelling • Increased data storage • Mobile apps • Android – Google Play Store • iPhone, iPad, iPods – iTunes Store
New features since 2011 • One-click control of access to tools • Automatically created downloadable formats (MP3/MP4) • In-built phone conferencing backup
Contacts and Questions Blackboard Collaborate online resources: http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com ITS Helpdesk Nick Baker Acting Director, Office of Open LearningErie Hall 1111 email: nbaker@uwindsor.ca ext. 4925
Key features • Real-time audio and video communication • F2F or remote students simultaneously (large or small classes) • Ability to record and playback, download • Interactive whiteboard/presentation space • Create on the fly, draw freehand, insert text • Pre-load PowerPoint, images • Text chat • Show reactions via emoticons • Breakout rooms
Key features • Application/desktop sharing • Web tours • Polls and quizzes • Mobile apps • Dial-in if no internet connection • Works on connection speeds down to dialup (28.8kbps) • Software as a Service (Hosted SaaS) • Data stored in Canada (Calgary) • Very stable
What can it do for us? • Enables greater 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 • Record lectures for student review • Pre-record & use class time for active learning • Record live lectures in class • Can be used to deliver lectures to small or large classes
What can it do for us? • Online assessment (formative & summative) • Remote students can deliver presentations • Oral exams • Mock interviews • Record group collaboration sessions to see process as well as product • Peer feedback • Increases flexibility • Students/faculty can use it wherever they have internet/computer • Inclement weather
Other uses • Desktop web conferencing • Webinars • Research/professional group meetings • Outreach • Recruitment • Cost savings (e.g. Reducing travel) • Doesn’t replace CLEW – extends capabilities into real-time collaboration
How is it currently being used at UWindsor? • Recording lectures (live and pre-recorded) • Student review of lectures • Distance courses • Bringing remote students into the on-campus classroom • Live DE lectures/discussions • On-campus student group projects • Virtual office hours
How is it currently being used at UWindsor? • Remote student presentations • Backup for F2F classes/meetings • Deliver classes remotely while away • Students who usually travel joining in remotely during inclement weather • Research collaborations
References • Carbonaro, M. et. al., 2008. Integration of e-learning technologies in an interprofessional health science course. Medical Teacher, 30(1): 25-33 • McBrien, J.L. et. al. 2009. Virtual Spaces: Employing a Synchronous Online Classroom to Facilitate Student Engagement in Online Learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 10(3). Online: http://www.irrodl.org.ezproxy.uwindsor.ca/index.php/irrodl/article/viewArticle/605 • Little et. al. 2006. Using synchronous software in web-based nursing courses. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. 24(6): 317-325