Class Collaborate

Class Collaborate is a web-based tool that instructors may use to conduct live online meetings with chat, video streaming, and screen-sharing tools. Class Collaborate is accessed through a tool link within an Ultra Course. If you or students have trouble accessing a Class Collaborate session, see our Class Collaborate Troubleshooting Tips.

Technical Requirements

To use Class Collaborate, you will need:

A computer with the latest update of the Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browser. The browser must allow cookies/third-party cookies. See these instructions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
A stable internet connection. If you are using WiFi, move closer to your router.
A webcam and speakers or a headset microphone.
The Class Collaborate Tool - See your Ultra course's "Details & Actions" panel.

First Time Instructions & Support

Each Ultra Course comes equipped with an all-purpose reusable Collaborate Course Room in the Details & Actions menu panel. If you choose to create your own scheduled meetings, disable the default course room through the Blackboard Collaborate tool's context menu to direct students to the correct meeting location.

Best Practices for a Successful Session

Ensure good internet connectivity - Sharing audio, video, and applications uses a lot of bandwidth; it requires a robust Internet connection. Plugging in directly to a router with an ethernet cable is preferable to Wi-Fi.
Ensure good audio quality - Use a headset microphone to reduce echos, noise, or technical problems.
Use bandwidth wisely - Close any streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, P2P, Spotify, or Pandora before accessing a session! To prevent buffering and reserve bandwidth, mute your video but keep your microphone on; if using application sharing, share only a particular application.
Minimize Motion and Visual Changes - Motion and visual changes use more bandwidth than simpler screens..
Confirm Changes with Participants - When switching between applications, ask participants whether they are able to see changes before continuing with a presentation. If you plan to step away from the session briefly or introduce a moment of silence while you prepare content to share on screen, let participants know.

Sharing a Guest Link to a Session

In your Blackboard Ultra course section, locate the Class Collaborate link in your course menu. Click on the ... icon and select GET GUEST LINK from the menu that appears.
You will be taken to a list of sessions. Click the ... icon next to your desired section. In the menu that appears, click COPY GUEST LINK. Use your mouse to copy the highlighted link text.
Share the copied guest link with students or others who you want to invite to join the session through an announcement or email. If you share the link in Blackboard, set the link to open in a new window to prevent technical issues. Be careful with distributing the guest link and direct participants to join by entering the session with their full names so that they can be identified.

Creating and Managing Recordings

During a Collaborate session, moderators may choose to record the session. Please note that recording breakout group activity during a session is not possible.

As of Fall 2022, newly created Collaborate recordings should automatically migrate to your YuJa Video Platform library through the Collaborate Connector for hosting and automated closed-captioning. If you do not see a recently authored Collaborate Recording in your YuJa media library, contact onlinelearning@matc.edu.

Once you receive an email confirmation that the recording is stored at YuJa, you may edit the recording and share it with students through the YuJa Media Chooser tool in your Blackboard sections.

If you have older Collaborate recordings that have not automatically moved to YuJa, you may manually download them from Blackboard and upload them to YuJa through these instructions.