Blackboard Collaborate Ultra:
Features and Benefits

Convenience

  • Tool is available for instructors in course shell.
  • User-friendly features for participants like the ability to share video and audio, raise hand, and send chat messages (with emoji’s).
  • Instructors can create single, multiple or repeating sessions.

Control over session

  • All instructors in the course are automatically set up as moderators within a session.
  • This gives them full control over the session, even if they did not create the session.

Tools for synchronous learning

  • Virtual whiteboard, chat, screen-share, audio and video stream, polling, and breakout groups.
  • Instructors can upload documents into meeting space prior to start of session.

Files and other content easily shared with participants

  • Upload files (images, PowerPoints, and PDF’s) prior to start of session using “Share Files” feature.
  • Moderator and participants can add annotations to uploaded files.
  • Send links and files real-time to participants using the “Chat” feature.
  • Moderators and participants can easily copy and/or save content written on the virtual whiteboard.
  • Screen share function allows instructor to easily display PowerPoints, documents, websites, or videos.

Security

  • Users access sessions through their Blackboard course or a secure link.
  • Moderators can manually remove users from sessions.

No downloads or plug-ins needed

  • Users have immediate access to session from their Blackboard course or by a guest link.

Large scale session options

  • Can host sessions with over 250 participants.
  • No time limitations for sessions.

No limit on number of recordings

  • Recordings do not reduce course storage space.
  • Recording links easily embedded into course materials.

Upward scalability

  • Network adapts to increased traffic by rescaling to maintain session quality.
  • In sessions with enhanced demand – multiple video streams, weakened internet connection, etc. – video will typically disconnect first in order to
    prevent dropping users from session.

Ability to check participant connectivity

  • Moderators can check indicator for internet quality of each user to monitor the quality of the user’s experience.

No need to find outside storage or hosting

  • Recordings are located within the course and can be added to other course shells.
  • Users can access the recordings either by tool link within the course or by receiving a link to the recording.

Limitations

  • On-screen users are limited to four profiles at one time.
  • Disabled tools due to recent increase of usage
  • No recording available for breakout groups, only main room interactions and chat messages. Note: separate sessions can be created for groups to
    record.