Collaboration Tools

The Collaboration Tool allows the instructor and students to participate in real-time lessons and discussions. It also allows participants to view archives of previous Collaboration sessions. The Collaboration sessions can be used to hold real-time, online classroom discussions, TA sessions, and office hour type question/answer forums. The Virtual Classroom session and Chat session are the Collaboration Tools available. The steps for entering the Virtual Classroom and Chat sessions are the same. Once you enter a session, the features are a bit different between the Virtual Classroom and Chat.


To participate in a Collaboration Session,

1. Log into your course site.
   
2. Click Communication > Collaboration.
   
3. Locate the session that you are scheduled to participate in. The title will be under Session Name. To enter, click Join to the right of the session name.

   *Please note that a Java Plug-in is required for the Collaboration feature to run properly. If you do not have the Java Plug-in, it should begin downloading and installing automatically, prompting you to accept the installation. Download time will vary by connection speed, possibly taking up to 15 minutes or more. There is a link to download the Java Plug-in on the next screen if the download does not occur automatically.

4. Once you click Join, the session screen should load within a few moments. If you have a pop-up blocker, it might interfere with the dialog screen. Please disable your pop-up blocker until the session is complete.

Virtual Classroom Features:

1. In the top left corner, you will see the following Classroom Tools:
   
   

   Course Map: enables participants to browse the course content while they are in the Virtual Classroom session. Whiteboard: enables participants to present information during the Virtual Classroom session as they would on a blackboard in a classroom, including drawing images, typing text, and presenting equations. Group Browser: enables participants to collaboratively browse the Web during a Virtual Classroom session. Ask Question: enables participants to ask questions during a Virtual Classroom session. Question Inbox: stores all questions from participants using the Ask Question tool.

2. At the bottom left of the session box, you will see 3 columns: Participants, Role, and . In the Participants column, you will see a list of all of the participants in the session. Next to each name, you will see an icon in the Role column. The Globe indicates the group moderator, who is generally the instructor. A face indicates a participant or student.
   
3. The third column, , is a participation management tool. It allows your instructor to moderate how students participate in the discussion.
   
4. The Private Message option allows you to send a message to one or more specific participants, but not to the class as a whole.
   
5. To compose a message, click in the text field next to Compose, (lower right side of screen). Once your message has been typed, click the Send Button immediately to the right of where you type your message.
   
6. The View option, at the upper left, allows you to divide up your conversation. It enables you to see all the private messages in a separate pane from the general conversation.
   
7. The Clear option allows you to clear the conversation from the Discussion box. This option is not recommended because once the conversation is cleared, there is no way to retrieve it, eliminating the ability to refer back to the conversation.

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Chat Features:

The Chat sessions have the same features as the Virtual Classroom sessions, with the exception of the Classroom Tools box. In addition, unlike the Virtual Classroom, if you try to navigate through the Online Learning System while you are in a Chat session, the session box will close down.

For more detailed information on using these tools, contact us.

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