Faculty Tools

Virtual Classroom

The Virtual Classroom tool lets you communicate in real time with your class. It gives you more tools than a Lightweight Chat session. The big difference between the Virtual Classroom tool and the Lightweight Chat tool are the Classroom tools. There are five Classroom tools: Course Map, Whiteboard, Group Browser, Ask Question, and Question Inbox. You can draw on a whiteboard, create slides, browse the web with your class, and field questions and answers.

Click to learn more about FERPA: Student Privacy and this tool.

Note: Currently the Virtual Classroom has a bug that will timeout a user after 30 minutes from the time they started even if they were active in the session. The user will just need to close the window and enter the classroom again.

Entering a Virtual Classroom

From the Course area:

1. Click on the Content Area link where you keep the Collaboration sessions. (This varies from course to course, but it is usually the Communication area.)
2. Click on the Collaboration link.
3. Click on the Join button to the right of the collaboration session you wish to join.
   Note: You will see a screen that says “Virtual Classroom Loading.” Depending on your connection speed, it may take a few minutes for the chat to download.

   Chat Window

   Sending a Message

   From the Virtual Classroom:

   1. Type your message in the text field to the right of the Compose button.
      
   2. Press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard or click on the Send button.

   Sending a Longer Message

   From the Virtual Classroom:

   1. Click on the Compose button.
      
   2. Type your message in the Compose Message window.
      Note: Pressing the Enter or Return key on your keyboard will insert line breaks in the window, but they will not appear when you send the final message sent.
   3. Click on the Send button.

Participant Window

Sending a Private Message

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on a name in the Participants list.
   
   Note: Blackboard highlights the user’s name, role, and status in purple. If you would like to send a private message to two or more users, hold down the Control key on your keyboard and click on the names of the users.
2. Click on the Private Message button.
3. Type your message in the Compose Private Message window.
4. Click on the Send button.
   Note: Private messages will not show up in the chat recordings.

Viewing User Information

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on a name in the Participants list.
   
   Note: Blackboard highlights the user’s name, role, and status in purple.
2. Click on the User Info button.

Classroom Tools (Course Map)

Displaying Content from Your Course to Users

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Course Map list item in the Classroom Tool section.
   
2. Highlight the item you want to display in the Course Map tree.
3. Choose Display to Class in the drop-down menu below the Course Map.
4. Click on the Go button.
   Note: The Course Map tool will not directly display files that have been added as attachments, tests, or assignments. You can use the tool to display the folder or area these things are in, but you must ask students to click on the link from that folder.

Previewing Content from Your Course in a New Window

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Course Map list item under the Classroom Tool section.
   
2. Highlight the item you want to preview in the Course Map tree.
3. Choose Preview in New Window in the drop-down menu below the Course Map.
4. Click on the Go button.

Refreshing the Tree in the Course Map Area

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Course Map list item under the Classroom Tool section.
   
2. Highlight the item you want to preview in the Course Map tree.
3. Choose Refresh Tree in the drop-down menu below the Course Map.
4. Click on the Go button.

Classroom Tools (Whiteboard)

Using the Whiteboard Drawing Tools

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Whiteboard list item under the Classroom Tool section.
   
   Note: If the Whiteboard does not appear, and the list item does not have the arrow to the right of it, click on the Display button to display it on the screen.
2. Click on the Tools tab under the Whiteboard section.
3. Click on the drawing tool you wish to use.

   If you clicked on the Equation Editor tool:

4. Click inside the Whiteboard where you want the equation to begin.
5. Type the equation in the equation field using the provided tools.
6. Click on the Insert Equation button.

If you clicked on the Text tool:

    4.   Click inside the Whiteboard where you want the equation or text to begin.
    5.   Type text in the text field.
    6.   Click on the Insert button.

If you clicked on the Line, Marker, Rectangle, or Circle Tool:

    4.   Click and hold inside the Whiteboard where you want the drawing to begin.
    5.   Move the crosshair to where you want to end and release the mouse.

Tools:

• Select Tool – Use this tool to select a portion of the drawing on the whiteboard. Hold the Shift key while clicking to select multiple items
• Line Tool – Use this tool to draw straight lines on the Whiteboard.
• Marker Tool – Use this tool to draw freehand lines on the Whiteboard.
• Equation Editor Tool – Use this tool to enter equations and display them on the Whiteboard.
• Rectangle Tool – Use this tool to draw rectangles on the Whiteboard.
• Circle Tool – Use this tool to draw circles or ovals on the Whiteboard.
• Text Tool – Use this tool to type text and display it on the Whiteboard.
• Fill Color – Use this option to choose the fill color of your shapes.
• Pen Color – Use this option to choose the outline color of your shapes and lines.
• Line Width – Use this option to choose the line width of your shapes and lines.
• Font – Use this option to choose the font of your text.
• Font Size – Use this option to choose the font size of your text.

Using the Whiteboard Editing Tools

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Whiteboard list item under the Classroom Tool section.
   
   Note: If the Whiteboard list item does not have the arrow to the right of it, click on the Display button to display it on the screen.
2. Choose a portion of the Whiteboard using the select tool.
3. Click on the editing tool you wish to use.

Editing Tools:

• Cut Tool – Use this tool to cut the selected portion of the Whiteboard.
• Copy Tool – Use this tool to copy the selected portion of the Whiteboard.
• Paste Tool – Use this tool to paste the most recent copied or cut portion of the Whiteboard.
• Delete Tool – Use this tool to delete the selected portion of the Whiteboard.
• Group Tool – Use this tool to group two or more selected portions of the Whiteboard so they act as one object.
• Ungroup Tool – Use this tool to ungroup a previously grouped object.
• Send to Back Tool – Use this tool to send an object to the back of the Whiteboard.
• Send to Front Tool – Use this tool to send an object to the front of the Whiteboard.
• Select All Figures Tool – Use this tool to select all the objects on the Whiteboard.
• Take a Snapshot Tool – Use this tool to take a snapshot of the Whiteboard. This tool is only available when you are recording a recording.

  Eraser Tool – Use this tool to erase the entire Whiteboard.

Moving a Figure

From the Whiteboard tool:

1. Select the figure you would like to move with the Select tool.
2. Click and drag inside the figure to move it.

Resizing a Figure

From the Whiteboard tool:

1. Choose the figure you would like to resize with the Select tool.
2. Click and drag on one of the eight boxes that surround the object.
3. Move your cursor to the point where you want the resizing to end.
   Note: You cannot resize objects (or grouped objects) that contain text, freehand drawings, or equations. You must recreate these objects using a different font size or redraw them.

Adding a Whiteboard Page

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Whiteboard button under the Classroom Tool section.
   
2. Click on the Controls tab under the Whiteboard section.
3. Click on the Add Whiteboard Page button (the plus sign).
   Note: When you create a new page, the Whiteboard does not automatically display it. Follow the directions for Displaying a Whiteboard Page below to move to the new page to edit it. These pages remain in the Virtual Classroom even if you leave it, so you can create a series of Whiteboard pages ahead of time and navigate through them as your collaboration session progresses.

Displaying a Whiteboard Page

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Whiteboard button under the Classroom Tool section
   
2. Click on the Controls tab in the Whiteboard pane that appears.
3. Click on the page you would like to display in the Controls tab.
4. Click on the Display button in the Controls tab.

Deleting a Whiteboard Page

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Whiteboard button under the Classroom Tool section.
   
2. Click on the Controls tab under the Whiteboard section.
3. Click on the page you would like to delete.
4. Click on the Delete Whiteboard Page button (the X).
5. Click on the OK button in the message window that appears.

Classroom Tools (Group Browser)

Displaying a Website with the Group Browser

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Group Browser button under the Classroom Tool section.
   
2. Type the URL you wish to display in the Address field.
3. Choose a display option from the drop-down menu.
4. Click the on Go! button.

Display Options:

• Display To Class – Use this option to display the website to everyone participating in the Virtual Classroom.
• Preview In Browser – Use this option to preview the website in a separate browser before showing it to everyone participating in the Virtual Classroom.

Classroom Tools (Ask Question)

Asking a Question

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Type your question in the Enter Question field.
2. Click on the Send button.
3. Click on the Ask Question button under the Classroom Tool section.

Asking a Long Question

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Ask Question button under the Classroom Tool section.
   
2. Click on the Compose button.
3. Type the question in the Compose Your Question field.
4. Click on the Send button.

Virtural Classroom Menu Tools

Starting a Breakout Session

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the Breakouts button at the top of the screen.
2. Click on the check boxes next to the users you want in the breakout session.
3. Click on the OK button.

Ending a Collaboration Session

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the End button on top of the screen.
2. Click on the OK button in the message window that appears.

Setting Virtual Classroom Options

From the Virtual Classroom:

1. Click on the View, Controls, or Clear button on the top of Virtual Classroom tool.
2. Enable or disable the desired options.
3. Click on the OK button.

View Options:

• Show in-line – Enable this option to show private messages in the same frame as the chat messages.
• Show in separate frame – Enable this option to show private messages in a separate frame from the chat messages.

Controls Options:

• Passive User – Enable this option to let passive users access the corresponding Virtual Classroom tools.
• Active User – Enable this option to let active users access the corresponding Virtual Classroom tools.
• End session and expel all users – Use this option to end the Virtual Classroom session.

Clear Options:

• Clear local display only – Enable this option to clear your chat window.
• Clear all users’ display – Enable this option to clear everyone’s window.

More Information

Q: I recently put content in my course and I would like to display it to my class using the Course Map tool. However, the items I’ve added do not appear in the Course Map. What’s going on?
A: Refreshing the Course Map tree will show recently added items that you have just added to your course. See the Refreshing the Course Map Tree procedure for more information.

Q: What are the system requirements for using the Virtual Classroom tool?
A: The Virtual Classroom, for full functionality, requires a Java-enabled version of Internet Explorer. Netscape users can access the Virtual Classroom, however, you must use the accessible version of the Virtual Classroom tool, and you will not be able to access some features.