Blackboard Collaborate is a fully-featured web conferencing application which includes support for audio and video teleconferencing, shared whiteboards (with PowerPoint file imports), application and desktop sharing, file transfer, break-out rooms and session recording. The application also includes voice tools that allow you to create voice boards where you can post audio files, send voice e-mails and participate in voice chat sessions.
Blackboard Collaborate is integrated with MyAberdeen, allowing virtual classroom or student discussion sessions and recordings to be managed directly from within your course. It can also be used independently of MyAberdeen, for example as a virtual office for online meetings. All that is required to participate in a Blackboard Collaborate session is a microphone and a webcam, for video conferencing, that can be connected to your computer.
The Centre for Academic Development's eLearning team provide various forms of support for Blackboard Collaborate. These include one to one support, drop in sessions and online self help materials which include: Documentations and Video Tutorials which include step by step guides designed to help staff perform common tasks and, for University Aberdeen staff, links to Collaborate recordings of in-depth training sessions. The Collaborate Features section of this web site outlines the potential of Blackboard Collaborate web conferencing and voice tools within learning and teaching.