You can use the whiteboard in Blackboard Collaborate to collaborate with your students and/or to allow students to collaborate with each other.
The Collaborate whiteboard and annotation tools were updated in August 2021. You can find details on the Blackboard help site: Blackboard Collaborate Annotation tools
Availability
- Free
- Online (via Blackboard Collaborate session)
Key features
- Collaborative working in real-time
- Freehand drawing tools (4-colour pen & eraser) & shapes
- Add, move, resize & delete text free text annotations
- Annotate in multiple languages
- Insert files for mark-up (GIF, JPEG and PNG images, PDF files, or PowerPoint)
- Toggle availability on/off in the main room for active learning exercises during presentations
Benefits
- Available in the Collaborate main room and Breakout Groups
- Easily deployed in large classes & smaller groups
- Simple toggle on-off feature to allow or remove access
Considerations and limitations
- Requires some practice and clear managing of expectations
- Annotations are anonymous – requires trust in students
- Requires intervention to save – take a screenshot to retain any Collaborate Whiteboards you wish to keep
- Breakout Groups Whiteboards are not saved when returning to the main room – take a screenshot to retain any Collaborate Whiteboards you wish to keep
- Works best on desktop/laptop devices, with some mobile users experiencing issues
Does the Collaborate Whiteboard meet accessibility standards?
- Blackboard’s accessibility limitations can be found in the University’s VLE accessibility statement
- Some users may find issues with keyboard navigation and visual activities
Copyright information and liabilities
- When adding third party content (such as images or videos) you must follow guidance on making copyright law work for you in your University teaching (useful copyright FAQs can be found on the University IMPs webpages). You may also find suitable content via the university collections or free image sites such a Pixabay, Unsplash and unDraw (always check the usage terms).
Page last updated on September 13, 2021 by andyturner
