Blackboard Collaborate is a third party tool available to be used within Blackboard classes.

Blackboard Collaborate™ is a simple, convenient, and reliable web conferencing solution built for education and training. Engage with the material and your students. Thanks to robust collaboration and conference tools, everyone feels like they're in the same room together, regardless of their location or device.

All Blackboard courses have a link to Blackboard Collaborate as part of the initial course template. The Instructor of a course will make this link available if the course uses Blackboard Collaborate.

Browser Support

While Collaborate supports all browsers, Chrome or Firefox gives you the best experience.

For the best Blackboard Collaborate experience with your screen reader use Firefox® and Jaws on a Windows® system. On a Mac® use Safari® and VoiceOver.

• More on browser support
• More on accessibility in Collaborate
• Collaborate, Chrome and 3rd Party Cookies

Audio and Video Setup

The Instructor of a course will determine if students can share audio and video in a Collaborate session.

You must give the browser permission to use audio and video to participate in a session. This is necessary so that you are seen and heard. You'll be asked to do this when you first join a session or when you first go to share your audio or video. 

By default, the video is turned off and audio is muted after you complete the setup. Select the microphone and video camera icons any time during a session to turn them on or off.

Troubleshooting: How to Improve Session Connectivity

Here are some tips on how to improve your Blackboard Collaborate Ultra session if you experience poor connectivity.

Following these steps may improve the performance.

• Ensure you are connecting from a strong and reliable wifi or wired network.
• There are no set hardware system requirements for Collaborate Ultra. Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome is recommended. In general, if the system can run Firefox or Chrome, then Collaborate Ultra is supported.
• Since Collaborate Ultra is run inside of the web browser, it is recommended to keep the number of web browser tabs to a minimum in order to maximize available system memory.
• USB connected webcams do not work as well while integrated video will provide a better overall experience.
• Disable webcams unless needed for instruction. Presenters and participants need not use their webcam to share video. Moderators can disable participants' webcams.
• For PowerPoint presentations: Presenters can use the File Share option to improve session performance for participants with low bandwidth.

(Note: A participant may not be able to control some of the administrative or moderator functions in a Collaborate Ultra session)

I am a first time user. What do I do prior to the first session?

• Visit the Blackboard Collaborate Support page to learn more about Collaborate.

How do I join a session?

• Your instructor will provide a session link either in your Blackboard Learn course or through email.
• Please join a session at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time to ensure that you have adequate time to sign in and check your audio and video.

Collaborate Support

Technical support is provided by Blackboard through the Blackboard Support website.

• Collaborate Support for Participants
• Collaborate Support for Moderators

Zoom is a third party tool available to be used within Blackboard classes.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems.

Zoom Support

• Support Guidelines
• Submit a Request

Kaltura is a third party tool available in your Blackboard course. Instructors can use Kaltura to record lectures or post videos for students to watch. Students can use Kaltura to record and submit presentations and video assignments.

• How to Submit a Kaltura Assignment
• How to add a Kaltura Video to a Discussion Board Thread

Kaltura and 3rd Party Cookies

Kaltura requires that users enable third-party cookies.

Follow the instructions for your browser:

Firefox

1. Click the "menu" button in the top-right corner of your screen. This looks like three bars stacked vertically. Select Options from the menu.
2. In the "Options" tab, choose Privacy & Security in the left sidebar navigation.
3. Ensure that the Standard box is selected.

Chrome

1. Click or tap on the "Customize and control Google Chrome" button from the top-right corner of your window. This looks like three dots stacked vertically. Select Settings from that menu.
2. Scroll down and click Privacy and Security.
3. Select Site Settings.
4. Click on Cookies and Site Data.
5. Set the "Block third-party cookies" switch to "off"; make sure the circle is on the left and the bar is gray. If it's blue, that means you are blocking cookies.

Safari for MacOS

1. Open Safari. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Safari and then Preferences.
2. Go to Privacy and uncheck Prevent cross-site tracking and Block all cookies.   
3. Refresh the web tab and the Kaltura video should now display.

Kaltura Support

• Kaltura Support Site
• Kaltura Knowledgebase

VoiceThread is a third party tool available to be used within your Blackboard classes.

VoiceThread is an online program through which you can leave comments (text, audio or webcam) around a slideshow of media. 

Browser Support

VoiceThread is supported fully by the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome.

• Browser Requirements

VoiceThread Support

• VoiceThread Knowlegebase
• Email: support@voicethread.com

Helpful items to include:

• Email address you use to access VoiceThread. School email address if you are accessing VoiceThread through Blackboard.
• Web browser you are using
• A screenshot of your problem
• A detailed summary of the issue