Blackboard Collaborate! Meeting Space Instructions Table of Contents Blackboard Collaborate! Meeting Space Instructions....................................................................1 Operating System.................................................................................................................1 Configuring your audio........................................................................................................3 Using the meeting space......................................................................................................3 Blackboard Collaborate Quick Reference..............................................................................4 To join meeting in APC's meeting space, click on the link indicated by meeting conveners, enter your real name into appropriate field and the the system will start loading the application in which the meeting takes place. First, make sure to read instructions below to assure that the Blackboard Collaborate application will run well on your computer. Operating System The Blackboard Collaborate conferencing application is Java-based and runs on all operating systems. Those of you who have double-boot should be preferably using their Windows partition as some features are more stable on Windows than Linux. There are several hardware requirements that your computer should match in order for you to be able to load and use the workshop space successfully: Specifications by Blackboard Collaborate: Windows Windows 2000/XP/Vista Pentium III 500 MHz processor 256 MB RAM 20 MB free disk space Soundcard with speakers and microphone or headset 28.8 kbps Internet connection Macintosh Mac OS X 10.2.8, 10.3.9, and 10.4 G3, G4, G5, or Intel processor 256 MB RAM 20 MB free disk space Microphone (internal, USB, or iSight) 28.8 kbps Internet connection Linux Pentium III 1 GHz processor APC Online Meeting Spaces – Blackboard Collaborate Instructions for participants 1 | 4 256 MB RAM 20 MB free disk space Soundcard with speakers and microphone or headset 28.8 kbps Internet connection So, if you have a relatively new computer with one of the common operating systems installed, it should work :-) What you certainly need is: 1. audio-enabled computer and audio headset 2. Java runtime environment (JRE) installed. If you don't have it yet you should be able to do so easy by going to http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp Lunux users Linux users should install openJDK java and use it instead of Sun's Java, as it is reported to support Blackboard Collaborate better: Debian, Ubuntu, etc.: sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jre sudo apt-get install icedtea-7-plugin) Fedora, Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, etc.: su -c "yum install java-1.7.0-openjdk" su -c “yum install java-1.7.0-icedtea-plugin” To test your system, visit Blackboard's test page which will: a) inform you whether your system is ready to use Blackboard Collaborate Application and b) lead you to the test meeting room. Once you visit the test meeting room and check that your audio works ok you are ready to meet in APC's meeting room. When joining the meeting in APC's meeting space, go to the link sent to you by meeting convener, type your real name into appropriate field, say 'ok' to all security warnings and questions (also remember to tick the option to accept Blackboard's security certificate permanently, before you hit 'Run') and the application will open. Note: When Java starts loading, the system commences downloading a whole set of components, which might take a while, depending on your bandwidth. That is necessary and safe, please don't interrupt this process. This download happens every time you attend a Blackboard Collaborate Session. APC Online Meeting Spaces – Blackboard Collaborate Instructions for participants 2 | 4 Configuring your audio Once you manage to open the meeting space, go to the Audio Setup Wizard to test your audio. It is accessible from the Audio menu which is located in the Audio & Video panel (little stripped roll-out menu). Audo menu->audio setup wizard. This step is important as you will certainly want to be using voice, and issues with audio are quite common when using the meeting space for the first time. If you are struggling with the wizard, use detailed instructions available at http://www.blackboard.com/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=7311a048-584e-47d3-a04b- 4a4a2a35fc8e Using the meeting space There are 4 basic groups of features that you need to know about to use this space: 1. A group of icons/buttons allowing you to draw on the whiteboard, add photos to it, write on it, point to sections of it, etc 2. Four buttons in the participants' presence area allow you to • Raise your hand when you are requesting to speak • Express a happy or unhappy smiley face or a hand gesture of agreement (applause) or disagreement (thumb down) • Indicate when you step away • Poll responses 3. Chat area 4. 'Microphone' and Video activation buttons. If you press the TALK button you are “on air” - others can hear everything you say. Next to the talk button the VIDEO button is located which allows you transmitting video from your webcam. Remember to un-press microphone once you finish talking! See BC quick reference guide for the basics of preparation and use of Blackboard Collaborate See next page for the complete overview of features APC Online Meeting Spaces – Blackboard Collaborate Instructions for participants 3 | 4 Blackboard Collaborate Quick Reference APC Online Meeting Spaces – Blackboard Collaborate Instructions for participants 4 | 4.