Bb Collaborate Ultra -- How Students Access Ultra

Basic Access

  1. Find the left navigation panel in your course section in Bb Learn at https://learn.dcollege.net
  2. Click the "Bb Collaborate Ultra" or "Ultra" link there.
    Or click the "Course Tools" link in the left navigation panel.
    Then click the "Bb Collaborate Ultra" link on the "Tools" webpage.
  3. Click "Course room."
    Then click "Join Course Room."
    Bb Collab Ultra Course Room.png
    Bb Collab Ultra Course Room Join Course Room.png
    *OR*
     click the appropriate scheduled session link (if there is one).
    Then click "Join Session."
    Bb Collab Ultra example schedule session.png
    Bb Collab Ultra Join Session.png
  4. Click "Join from a browser" (if you are on a laptop or desktop computer).
    Bb Collab Ultra Join from Browser.png
  5. Click "Allow" or "Okay" or "Share" if prompted (once or multiple times).
    Do this now, and for any future steps.

Audio, Video, and Screen Sharing

For Text Chat

  1. Click purple arrow in the lower right.
    purple_arrow.png
  2. Click speech bubble in lower right.
    speech_bubble.png

Chat

Choose Everyone.
Or choose specific people from top drop-down menu in right panel.

Type in your messages in box at bottom of right panel.
Note: You currently cannot see when someone is composing a message.
Note: Text chat is *now* captured during recordings.

Let Others Here You -- Audio

Click the crossed out microphone icon.
If prompted, click to "Allow" (preferably "Always Allow" or the like)
in your web browser or Bb Collaborate Ultra to access your microphone/webcam.
When your microphone is picking up sound,
the microphone icon looks like the example image on the right below.
Bb Collab Ultra share audio.png Bb Collab Ultra mic microphon on with level color.png

If you run into issues,
scroll down to the "Audio Trouble" section below.

Let Others See You -- Video or Webcam

Click the crossed out camera icon.
If prompted, click to "Allow" (preferably "Always Allow" or the like)
in your web browser or Bb Collaborate Ultra to access your microphone/webcam.
camera icon

Share Computer Display or PowerPoint Presentation

Your instructor, or a moderator must elevate your permission to moderator/presenter status for screen sharing to work.

Note: Webcam video will not appear in recordings by default when you use application/desktop/screen sharing.
A work-around is provided at the link below.

  1. Click purple arrow in the lower right.
    purple double arrow

  2. Click square with arrow icon > "Share Application" > "Entire Screen."
    Choose a monitor if asked.
    Or click square with arrow icon > "Share Application" > "Application."
    Choose an application to share.
    sharing icon

  3. First time use in your internet browser? If not, skip to step 4.

    Allow download and installation of plug-in or extension.
    Reload the room webpage if asked to do so.
    Click purple arrow in the lower right (if right panel not already expanded).
    Click square with arrow icon > "Share Application" > "Entire Screen."
    Choose a monitor if asked.
    Or click square with arrow icon > "Share Application" > "Application."
    Choose an application to share.

  4. Run your PowerPoint presentation and/or do anything else you normally do on your computer.
  5. If you need students to see webcam video:
    Stop sharing the application or desktop.
    Or use the work-around solution below.
  6. If you need to screen or application share and have webcam video
    (say to show you writing on a white board)...
    Open the Windows "Camera" app or Mac's QuickTime.
    Bring up the movie or video recording window.
    Don't start recording.
    Just bring up up the window showing the webcam video to the foreground on your computer display
    when you want students to see what you are writing while screen sharing in Ultra.
    Expand the window if necessary.
    For help with doing this on a Mac, see the following webpage:
    QuickTime

Troubleshooting

See the webpage below for how self-help troubleshooting tips.

Accessing Recordings

See the webpage below for how to view and (if allowed by the instructor) download recordings.

Optional Additional Self-Help Assistance

"Start Here with the Basics!" Blackboard support webpage below.

Drexel ITG's "First Time User" webpage for Bb Collaborate Ultra