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1. Log into your Blackboard Course
2. You must add Blackboard Collaborate to a content item ( such as the course documents button in your menu on the left).  See this FAQ if you want to create a new content menu button.
3. Click on your content button and use the tools tab at the top to  choose Blackboard Collaborate.
4. Click Create Session to schedule a new web conferencing session from the Bb Collaborate List Page.
5. There are 4 tabs across the top: Information, Participation, Sharing and Content Area.
6. Under the Information tab there are the following sections:

• • Session Information
    • Give the session a title (include the course name and number, then title - ex.  AMST100 Office Hours)
    • Choose the type of session
    • Course - session will only be displayed in the current course
    • Shared - session is displayed in multiple selected courses. Available for instructors who have more than one course
  • Schedule
    • Date – set the Start Date and End Date. Session can be for a specific date and time or set to run over a longer period of time for example for a full semester or term; DoIT suggests creating only one session and leaving it open all semester long.  Make sure the start time is at least 15-30 minutes in the future.
    • Early session entry – the period of time before the start of the session during which users can join the session
  • Session Attributes
    • Recording Mode
      • Manual – Moderator activates recording - this is the default setting
      • Automatic – Recording starts when the first person enters the session
      • Disabled – Session will not be recorded
    • Maximum Simultaneous Talkers and Cameras – up to six simultaneous talkers and cameras can be activated for the session. The moderator can change the number during the live session
    • Supervised – allows moderators to view all private chat messages in the session
    • All Permissions – all participants will have full permissions when they enter the session. Permissions are audio, video, chat and whiteboard. The moderator can give and take away permissions during the session on an individual or global level
    • Raise Hand on Entry – when a participant enters the session their hand will be automatically raised thereby notifying the moderator that someone has entered the room
    • Allow In-Session Invitations – the session URL will be available to send from within the session so others may join the session
    • Hide Names in Recordings – names of session participants are hidden from viewers of the recording. Names are replaced with Participant 1, Participant 2, etc.

7.  The Participation tab allows the session creator to assign session roles and to invite participants who are not registered in the Blackboard course.  There are two sections: Assign Roles and Guest Invitees

• • Assign Roles
    • You can choose to allow all participants to be moderators, or select individuals to enter the session as moderators.
  • Guest Invitees
    • If you know the names and email addresses of people not registered in your Bb course who you would like to attend your session, you can include them here. An automatic email invite will be sent to them with the link for the session.

8. The Sharing tab allows you to upload default content to be available whenever the session is used. 

9. The Content Area tab is where you will determine the name and the location of the link to the Collaborate Session.  There are two sections: Content Area Details, and Options.

• • Content Area Details
    
    • Enter the name exactly the way you want the link to appear in your course
    • Select the content area where you want the link  to appear
    • Enter any description or comments that you want to appear with the link
    • If the session is required for students, check the required button (otherwise the link will be labeled as "suggested")
  • Options
    • Choose the date/time constraints for the link to the session (please note that these options control the link to the session, not the actual session itself)
  10. Press Submit to create the session.

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