Blackboard
Virtual Classroom
Each course includes a synchronous
chat room for student and group communications. Virtual Classroom, as we call
the chat room, can be used to hold "live" classroom discussions, TA sessions,
and office hour type question/answer forums. You can even have guest speakers
and subject matter experts talk with the class in the Virtual Classroom.
When developing an activity that
requires a Virtual Classroom, consider the following:
- The Virtual Classroom is a Java
application and may initially take a few minutes to load into a browser window.
Before developing assignments that require the Virtual Classroom, be sure
that all students have Java enabled browsers.
- Due to the synchronous nature
of the Virtual Classroom, multiple users must participate at the same time.
Be sure to notify students about a scheduled Virtual Classroom session to
ensure attendance.
- Sometimes a Virtual Classroom
session can be overwhelming if there are too many users. Consider grouping
students into several small groups to keep the conversation manageable.
Accessing Virtual Classroom
There are two ways to access the
Blackboard Virtual Classroom. Within Communication in the Course view, click
Virtual Classroom (if available) or click Virtual Classroom in the Course view
(if available)
Overview of Virtual Classroom
A Virtual Classroom contains
several distinct areas:
- Whiteboard Space (1):
You can display web pages on the whiteboard space, which is the large center
area. You can also write or draw on this space using the drawing toolbar.
- Menu Bar (2): Use the
menu bar to change the information that appears on the whiteboard space, such
as selecting a font to use on the whiteboard space and moving an object on
the whiteboard space behind another object. You can also prepare lessons,
navigate slides displayed on the whiteboard space, and clear the Group Discussion
tab and Questions and Answers tab (refer to the Tab Panel description for
further information on these tabs).
- Application Tool Bar (3):
The application toolbar contains tools for navigating web pages.
- Location Field (4): Use
the location field to enter the URL of a web page you would like to use during
your Virtual Classroom session. The web page is then displayed on the whiteboard
space. Users can also write or draw on the web page with the drawing toolbar.
- Drawing Toolbar (5): Use
the drawing toolbar to write and draw on the whiteboard space.
- Status Region (6): Status
messages are displayed at the bottom of your Virtual Classroom window in the
status region. View important system messages as well as information about
many Virtual Classroom controls in this space.
- Tab Panel (7): Use the
tab panel to chat with students, respond to students' questions, control classroom
behavior, and view information about the students in the Virtual Classroom.
To select a tab, just click its tab; the tab's features and functions will
then appear on the screen.
The following tabs are available:
| Name of Tab |
Purpose |
| Group Discussion |
Use this tab to talk with the
students in the Virtual Classroom. |
| Questions and Answers |
If a student uses his/her Questions
tab to submit a question to the instructor, the instructor can then answer
the question using the Incoming Questions tab. Thereafter, the instructor
can view a log of their dialogue regarding the question on the Questions
and Answers tab. |
| Participation Information |
Use this tab to learn about
the students in the Virtual Classroom, such as their names. |
| Slides |
Use this tab to prepare and
present a series of slides. (See Options in Preparing Lessons). The tab
is only available to the Instructor. |
| Incoming Questions |
If a student uses his/her
Questions tab to submit a question to the instructor, the instructor can
then answer the question using the Incoming Questions tab. Thereafter, the
instructor can view a log of their dialogue regarding the question on the
Questions and Answers tab. The Incoming Questions tab is only available
to the instructor. |
| Access Control |
Use this tab to control students'
ability to conduct the four Virtual Classroom activities: Question, Chat,
Drawing, Navigating. The tab is only available to the instructor |
Virtual Classroom Basics - Options in Preparing Lessons
To add a web page to your lesson:
- In the location field, type
the URL of the web page that you would like to add.
- Add the web page to your lesson
with one of two options available on the Lesson menu.
- Quick Add from Display Note:
Quick Add from Display automatically appends the slide to your lesson and
changes the slide title to the web page URL. a. Click the Lesson menu. b.
Click Quick Add from Display.
- Add Slide Note:
Add Slide allows you to assign your own title to the slide, change the size
of the slide, add a slide description, and indicate the position of the slide
within the lesson. a. Click the Lesson menu. b. Choose Add Slide. c. Choose
From Current Display. You will then see the screen shown here. d. Enter a
title for the new slide. e. If you wish, you can also enter a slide description
as well as change the size and position of the slide. f. Click Create Slide.
To add a blank slide to your
lesson:
- Select the Lesson menu, then
choose Add Slide, then choose New Slide.
- Enter a title and description
for the new slide.
- Enter 1000 as the width and height
of the slide.
- Select the position of the slide
within the lesson (for example, as first slide, as last slide, or after the
current slide).
- Click Create Slide.
Processing Floor Requests:
If you see a name listed on the left side of the Access Control tab, then a
student has requested access to additional Virtual Classroom activities (drawing,
chatting, navigating, and asking questions). These requests are called "floor
requests." You can either grant or deny the floor request.
To grant the floor request: On the
Access Control tab, highlight the requestor's name, then click the icon.
To deny the floor request: On the
Access Control tab, highlight the requestor's name, then click the icon.
