Thank you for participating in a Learning Revolution virtual event! Our events are primarily held in the Zoom and Blackboard Collaborate virtual teaching and learning platforms. All presenters are expected to be familiar with the platform for their conference and the conference-specific practices that are outlined in the following documentation.
For presenters or volunteers at an event using Zoom, you will receive email correspondence specific to the Zoom training. The information below is just for events using Blackboard Collaborate.
The training sessions are in this room: http://www.trainingroom.live (or, if that link doesn't work, try https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?password=LRPart1&sid=2008350). The detailed instructions below are all covered in the live training and are here just for reference.
Find a live training session using the calendar below:
BE SURE TO CONVERT TO YOUR OWN TIME ZONE (EASTERN SHOWN)
BLACKBOARD TRAINING
To check that your computer is compatible with Blackboard Collaborate, please verify here. Test your system by going to http://www.practiceroom.live (or, if that link doesn't work, try https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?password=LRPracticePart1&sid=2008350). If you are able to get into the Blackboard Collaborate environment, your system is ready.
(Mac Users: Please click here for an update about launching Blackboard sessions on your computer.)
You can use the Blackboard Collaborate room at http://www.practiceroom.live (or https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?password=LRPracticePart1&sid=2008350) to practice using the program.
Event-specific information is always available at your conference site training page, and you are encouraged to post questions to the discussion forum for additional support.
We will work hard to make sure there is a volunteer moderator in your session, but it is not guaranteed. You do need to learn the program.
If you do not attend a training session or review the conference training materials, and you come unprepared and have a problem, you'd better come with an apology and not a demand. :)
Teleconference phone numbers and PINs are now automatically generated for your session and anyone in the session can initiate the connection between the session and the teleconference (establish the Teleconference bridge) by simply dialing in to the teleconference. This feature is now supported by Blackboard, rather than the individual account owner.
Collaborate mobile applications are now available for both iOS and Android devices. Mobile users are unable to use most moderator privileges, including loading content, enabling or disabling permissions, or leading web tour or application sharing. Mobile users are unable to view web tours, and must rely on the link published to the chat to view web tour content. Mobile users can use microphone and chat permissions and see the whiteboard. This is a great option for participants, or for those who have lost their Internet connection and need to rejoin the session. For more information click here.
The echo cancellation feature has been greatly improved, enabling multiple microphones to be used at once. It is still advised that speakers use microphone headsets or their computer’s microphone with earbuds in order to avoid audio feedback with multiple speakers. Up to six microphones can be turned on at once.
Blackboard recordings are now easily converted into mp3 and mp4 formats. These formats, as well as the native playback link, can be found on the recording page for each session. If you do not see your session converted into all three formats, please contact admin@web20labs.com.
Once your presentation proposal has been accepted, you will receive an email from the conference organizers which will include a link to the youcanbook.me booking site. The site will list the times that are available for you to schedule your session. Please be sure to scroll to the bottom of the booking page to select your time zone before choosing your time.
The week before the event, you will receive an email with the link to your session room. Your session will have a unique URL that allows you to enter the room with moderator permissions. Do not share this link with anyone except your co-presenter or volunteer moderator.
Your audience will enter the room as participants with a different link that they will find in the conference calendar on the homepage of the conference site. Direct interested participants to the conference website so that they can find the appropriate links, as well as Collaborate support if they should need it.
Please enter the room 1 hour before your session is scheduled to begin in order to upload your slides correctly, customize the Collaborate layout, and to be sure that you are adequately prepared for your session. This will give you and the volunteers enough time to troubleshoot any last minute issues and ensure that you are ready to present on time.
Once your slides are uploaded, do not exit the session. Exiting the session will reset the room to its original formatting, and you will have to upload your content again when you return.
If you need some help before your session, the volunteer "lounge" will be open during the conference and we will be glad to help you. The link to the room will be provided to you in the pre-conference email. You can keep your session room and the lounge open at the same time.
- Configure microphone and speakers each time you enter a session
Tools > Audio > Audio Setup Wizard - Create a profile to share with others
PC Edit > Preferences > My Profile
Mac Blackboard Collaborate > Preferences > My Profile
Depending on the event, you have either 30 or 60 minutes to present, but please make sure you allow 5 full minutes at the end of your session to give your audience a quick break between your presentation and those that begin in the next time slot.
For a 60-minute session, please be sure that your presentation is at least 20 minutes long, and that you have allowed time for Q & A following your presentation.
Consider the audience that attends your session as a "studio audience." Because we have so many sessions and in all different time zones, many who will want to attend your session will have to watch the recording--so remember that your "studio" attendance only represents a portion of those who will watch and benefit from your presentation.
When you enter the room, you need to wait a minute or two, then you will see the slides that have been preloaded for all sessions in the conference. These slides have specific instructions for conference presenters.
Please follow the steps outlined in the checklist on this first page.
The Welcome Slide is the slide that your participants should see when they enter your room. Select the text button in the tool bar, then click on the area on the whiteboard slide that you'd like to enter text. Use the text toolbar (see below) to modify text style and size.
Have you started the recording? This slide is to remind you to start the recording. If you get to this slide and realize the recording has been started accidentally, you can erase the recording. Stop the recording, go to Tools > Recorder > Erase Recording. Then click Record to begin the new recording.
Please spend a moment on this slide so that our sponsors and supporters can be recognized. You are not expected to talk about the sponsors, but a simple thank you or acknowledgement that the event has many sponsors and supporters is appreciated.
- Enable whiteboard permissions
Participants panel > Main Room > Enable Whiteboard permission -
- Use pointer to indicate location
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REMINDER: Disable whiteboard permissions before moving on to next slide to avoid disruptions to your presentation.
6. Upload Slides HereWhen you get to this slide, click on Upload Content and select the file you’d like to use.
7. FinishPlease review the following instructions in order to ensure that the recording of your session will process correctly.
The way it works - Blackboard Collaborate converts your slides into compressed image files called whiteboard slides (.wbd).
Please use PowerPoint, OpenOffice, StarOffice, or NeoOffice to create your slide deck.
Collaborate does not convert transitions, animations, or support embedded video.
Collaborate does not support Prezi, Keynote or PDF files.
Best practice - Export your slide deck to image files. You can do this with Powerpoint and Keynote. If you are using Google Slides, you either: add the "Slide Toolbox" add-on inside of Google Slides, then export to .jpg; or you can export your slides to PDF, then use the service at https://smallpdf.com/pdf-to-jpg to convert the .pdf file to .jpg images. You can then upload in bulk the images.
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When you are uploading image files in bulk, Blackboard Collaborate imports them alphabetically, not numerically. Meaning, slide 1, then slide 10, then slide 11... So you have to bulk upload slides 1 -9 first, then slides 10 - 99, then slides 100 - end (if you have that many!).
Upload your slide deck- Click Load Content
- Select file from your computer
- Allow Collaborate to open the program and convert files to .wbd files (takes a minute or so)
Please practice uploading your presentation into your free WeCollaborate vRoom prior to the day of your session.
Moderator PermissionsPresenters and volunteers will enter the room with moderator permissions. You will use a moderator URL to enter the room. These links will be emailed to you by the conference organizers. Anyone with moderator permissions has the ability to enable or disable participant permissions, start and stop the recording, load content into the whiteboard, and use some of the advanced tools in the Collaborate session.
Participant PermissionsConference attendees and guests that wish to join your session will enter the room with participant permissions. Attendees will use a participant URL to enter the room. They will find this link in the conference calendar. Participant permissions are enabled or disabled by the session moderators, and may include using the chat, microphone, video or whiteboard tools. Participants do not have the ability to navigate the slide deck, start or stop the recording, or load content into the session.
All session participants and moderators have the ability to express emoticons, raise their hand, change their status to away, and use the polling feature. All of these are found in the participants panel.
- Enable chat permissions for Main Room
- Whiteboard permissions enabled for map slide only, unless you’d like participants to use the whiteboard in other parts of your presentation
- Microphone and Video permissions can be enabled during the Q & A session
- You can choose to give permissions to individuals by using the right click or dropdown menu option on their name in the participants panel, then choosing which permissions to enable
Here are a few tips for leading a successful conference session, and for optimizing the experience of conference attendees.
- Practice your presentation using the same computer, connection, and audio configuration that you plan to use during your live session. Try to avoid using a wireless connection for your presentation.
- Your session title should adequately describe your session topic and grab the attention of conference attendees, while your session proposal should be a robust description of what you plan to present.
- Exchange phone numbers with your co-presenter in case of an unexpected event or connectivity issue.
- Run your Audio Setup Wizard every time you enter a session. Audio issues can be really disruptive, so make it a habit to use this tool each time you log in.
Tools > Audio > Audio Setup Wizard - Think creatively about ways that you can engage your audience. Spend some time thinking about how you can get your audience involved in the presentation. Record your presentation in your practice room and watch the recording to identify places that you might pause to do an activity or where you might ask participants to weigh in on your topic.
- Silence your cell phone, house phone, chat services, or any other programs that may distract you and your session participants. If your microphone is on, all of these noises will be broadcasted to the entire session.
- Plan to pause every ten minutes or so to ask for feedback from your audience. Use the polling feature, emoticons, or chat to check in with your audience. This will not only help to keep your audience engaged, but also help you develop confidence with a virtual audience.
- Use an overview or outline slide to let your audience know what they can expect and when you have allotted time for Q & A. Ask your audience to reserve their questions for those periods so that you won’t be distracted during your presentation. Your volunteer moderator can monitor the chat in between Q & A.
- Close all programs and browser windows that are not part of your presentation while you present. Leave a browser window or text window open that has the moderator link you used to join the session. In case you drop out for any reason, you’ll have the link readily available to copy and paste into a new window.
The success of this conference is made possible by the support of our generous volunteers. Volunteers from all over the world work around the clock to make sure that conference presenters are ready to present by performing last minute troubleshooting, offering to help with audience connectivity issues, and helping to monitor audience questions. Having a volunteer moderator in your session is not guaranteed, but we work very hard to make sure you have this additional support.
Volunteer moderators will typically enter your room 15 - 30 minutes before your presentation is scheduled to begin.
Here are some tasks you might ask them to help you with:
- Start and stop the recording
- Monitor the chat window. It can be distracting to try to read the chat while you’re speaking. Ask your moderator to keep an eye on the chat, and alert you if there is something that needs your immediate attention
- Alert you if your audio suddenly drops out, or connectivity becomes limited. It’s really helpful to have another set of eyes and ears to solve problems early on!
- Be your tech support should you or any of your participants has any technical issues. The volunteer moderator will be simultaneously logged into the volunteer lounge and can seek help quickly without disrupting your presentation
Microphone - Click Talk once to turn on, click again to turn off
Although Blackboard Collaborate has improved the echo-cancellation feature, you are advised to use a microphone headset, or your device’s microphone with earbuds, rather than using your device’s built in speakers and microphone together. This will reduce the likelihood of picking up ambient noises or feedback during your presentation.
It is a best practice to turn your microphone off when you are finished speaking.
Webcam - Click Video once to turn on, click again to turn off
Use preview icon to adjust video before transmitting. You are not obligated to use a webcam, but are welcome to use it to help personalize your session.
- Emoticons - Use dropdown menu to select
- Away - Click once to show away, click again to return
- Raise hand - Click once to raise hand, click again to lower hand
Participants with raised hands display in ranked order - Poll - Use drop down menu to select appropriate response
Use text box to communicate in the chat window
Use Moderator tab to communicate with other moderators in the session. Remember to navigate back to the Room tab.
The whiteboard is the main interface of Blackboard Collaborate. Slides uploaded from PowerPoint or OpenOffice will be visible here.
- Pointer - Select from pointer menu, then hold mouse down while using pointer tool to make visible to participants.
- Text - Select text icon, then click on whiteboard to insert text. Use text toolbar to modify size, color, and style.
- Highlighter/Pen - Select tool, then hold mouse down while drawing on the whiteboard slide.
While you’re presenting, you may wish to see a larger view of the chat or participant panel or to rearrange the layout of the panels. You can drag the participant, chat and audio/video panel into whichever order you prefer. You can also use the dropdown menu to the right of the panel name and select detach panel to pull the panel out of the session view. To reattach panel, just click on the x in the upper corner of the detached panel, or use the dropdown menu to select reattach.
You can use polling to get feedback from the entire room. Ask a question in your session and then ask participants to find the fourth icon over in the participant panel to answer.
The default responses are yes or no, but can be changed to multiple choice. To change the polling type:
Tools > Polling > Polling Type > Select Polling Type Option You can see the number of responses in the participant panel, and you can publish these results to the whiteboard. To publish results:
Tools > Polling > Publish Responses to Whiteboard Click on Clear to clear the results of a poll.
Web tour is used to take the audience to a specific website. This feature pushes the URL to the participant’s personal browser, rather than being slowed down by having to communicate with the Blackboard server. Always post the link in the chat for mobile users and for firewall protected computers. Either use copy and paste, or use dropdown menu next to the Follow Me checkbox and select Publish URL to Chat.
Use Web Tour to show a video. Paste the URL to YouTube or Vimeo in the web tour text box. The streaming video uses the bandwidth on the personal device of each participant, rather than the Blackboard server, making for a great user experience.
Use Web Tour to share a non-password protected site with participants. Paste URL in the web tour text box.
Use application sharing to share a program on your computer with your audience. The application sharing feature takes rapid screenshots of the presenter’s desktop, then uploads through the Blackboard server. This process can be choppy, or inconsistent.
Use Application Sharing for program demonstrations. Application sharing is the only way to share or demonstrate a program on your computer (Photo or Video Editing software, Web Design software, Content Management System, etc.)
Use Application Sharing to share a password protected site with participants. Application sharing allows participants to follow you through a password protected website, where they would typically be unable to see protected content areas.
Teleconference phone numbers and PINs are automatically generated for your session and anyone in the session can initiate the connection between the session and the teleconference (establish the Teleconference bridge) by simply dialing in to the teleconference. To connect via telephony, simply click on the phone icon in the Audio & Video panel and provide your caller with the appropriate phone number and PIN. Use the moderator telephone number for co-presenters or guest speakers, and the participant telephone number for all other conference attendees. This is a great option for co-presenters or participants who do not have reliable Internet connections or access to a computer.
To mute the teleconference guest, use the dropdown menu on Teleconference in the participants panel and disable their audio permissions.
Warning SignsRed or orange dots will appear next to participant’s name that indicate there is a delay. Typically this is a reflection of individual connection speed, but can be an indicator that the server is being taxed by the use of webcams or application sharing.
If you start to see multiple participants with bandwidth issues:
- Turn off all webcams
- Stop application sharing
If individuals are experiencing delays, advise them to exit and re-enter the session.
Download Collaborate Mobile AppOpen Google Play on your Android device and search for Blackboard Collaborate Mobile. The application requires Android 2.3.3 and up.
Sign into your Amazon account to download the Blackboard Collaborate Mobile application for your Kindle Fire.
Join a SessionUse copy and paste to enter the URL for the session you’d like to join. Enter your name the way you’d like it to appear in the Participants panel.
OR
Click on the session URL in the conference calendar or link sent to you by email. Your device should automatically open the Blackboard Collaborate Mobile application and prompt you to join the session. If you see the dialogue Open App, choose OK.InterfaceAudio - Use the microphone button at the top of your screen to talk. Click once to turn on. You will see your name turn blue in the participants panel to indicate that you are speaking. Click once again to turn off.
Chat - Touch the text box to activate your device’s keyboard feature. Click send once you’ve finished typing your message. Expand the chat panel by holding your finger down on the Main Room Chat window and dragging it upwards.
Whiteboard - The presentation slides will be shown on the whiteboard. Use the expanding arrows icon at the top right of the window to expand the slide presentation.
Participant Tools - Use the icons below the whiteboard to participate in the session.
- Emoticons can be used to give quick feedback to the speaker.
- Use the away icon to show that you’ve stepped away from the session.
- Raise your hand to ask a question.
- Use the polling feature to answer questions posed to participants.
Settings - Touch the list icon at the top left of the window. Touch Settings to see your options for network settings, audio alerts, and more information about the application.
Leave a SessionTouch the list icon at the top left of the window. Touch Leave to completely exit the session. If you minimize the application, the session will still be running in the background. Please be sure to exit completely so that the recording can be processed.
LimitationsThe current version of the Blackboard Collaborate Mobile application is optimal for attending sessions as a participant. Although you can enter the mobile session using a moderator URL, you will not be able to exercise your moderator permissions from a mobile device.
FeaturesVideo - The application does not currently support video from your device’s camera. You will not be able to transmit or receive webcam video while connected via mobile.
Web Tour - Participants who are logged in via mobile devices will not see the web tour in the whiteboard. Presenters must publish the URL to the chat so that mobile users can follow along using their device’s browser. Please ask the session presenter to share the URL in the chat if you do not see it right away.
Whiteboard - Mobile participants will not be able to use the whiteboard tools to type, draw, or point, so plan to share your session contributions in the chat window.
Download Collaborate Mobile AppOpen the App Store on your iOS device and search for Blackboard Collaborate Mobile. The application requires iOS 4.3 or later, and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Join a SessionUse copy and paste to enter the URL for the session you’d like to join. Enter your name the way you’d like it to appear in the Participants panel.
OR
Click on the session URL in the conference calendar or link sent to you by email. Your device should automatically open the Blackboard Collaborate Mobile application and prompt you to join the session. If you see the dialogue Open App, choose OK.Please note that the Conference Sessions calendar cannot be viewed correctly from all iOS browsers. You will be able to view the session titles, but unable to expand each event to get the session links and descriptions. The best work around for this is to view the conference calendar on a computer, then email yourself a list of session titles and their corresponding room links.
Interface
Audio - Use the microphone button at the top of your screen to talk. Click once to turn on. You will see your name turn blue in the participants panel to indicate that you are speaking. Click once again to turn off.
Chat - Touch the text box to activate your device’s keyboard feature. Click send once you’ve finished typing your message. Expand the chat panel by holding your finger down on the Main Room Chat window and dragging it upwards.
Whiteboard - The presentation slides will be shown on the whiteboard. Use the expanding arrows icon at the top right of the window to expand the slide presentation.
Participant Tools - Use the icons below the whiteboard to participate in the session.
- Emoticons can be used to give quick feedback to the speaker.
- Use the away icon to show that you’ve stepped away from the session.
- Raise your hand to ask a question.
- Use the polling feature to answer questions posed to participants.
Settings - Touch the list icon at the top left of the window. Touch Settings to see your options for network settings, audio alerts, and more information about the application.
Leave a SessionTouch the list icon at the top left of the window. Touch Leave to completely exit the session. If you minimize the application, the session will still be running in the background. Please be sure to exit completely so that the recording can be processed.
LimitationsThe current version of the Blackboard Collaborate Mobile application is optimal for attending sessions as a participant. Although you can enter the mobile session using a moderator URL, you will not be able to exercise your moderator permissions from a mobile device.
FeaturesVideo - The application does not currently support video from your device’s camera. You will not be able to transmit or receive webcam video while connected via mobile.
Web Tour - Participants who are logged in via mobile devices will not see the web tour in the whiteboard. Presenters must publish the URL to the chat so that mobile users can follow along using their device’s browser. Please ask the session presenter to share the URL in the chat if you do not see it right away.
Whiteboard - Mobile participants will not be able to use the whiteboard tools to type, draw, or point, so plan to share your session contributions in the chat window.
