Student Course 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. The tools you have access to depend on how your instructor configured the Virtual Classroom. You can draw on a whiteboard, create slides, browse the web with your class, and field questions and answers.

Entering a Virtual Classroom Sending a Message Sending a Longer Message Sending a Private Message Viewing User Information Displaying Content from the Course Previewing Content in a New Window Refreshing the Course Map Whiteboard Drawing Tools Whiteboard Editing Tools

New Whiteboard Page Displaying a Whiteboard Page Deleting a Whiteboard Page Displaying a Website Asking a Question Asking a Long Question Starting a Breakout Session Classroom Options

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Entering a Virtual Classroom

From the Course area:

1. Click on the Content Area link where your instructor keeps 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.

Sending a Message

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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 tool:

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.
   

Sending a Private Message

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

1. Click on a name in the Participants list.
   Note: Blackboard highlights the user’s name, role, and status in purple. If you’d like to send a private message to two or more users, hold down control 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 archives.
   

Viewing User Information

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

1. Click on the name of the participant you wish to view information for.
   Note: Blackboard highlights the user’s name, role, and status in purple.
2. Click on the User Info button.
   

Displaying Content from the Course

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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 the Course in a New Window

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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 tool:

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.
   

Using the Whiteboard Drawing Tools

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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 the Whiteboard 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 the mouse inside the Whiteboard to start drawing.
    5.   Move the crosshair to the end of the drawing 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 tool:

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

Moving a Figure

From the Whiteboard tool:

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

Resizing a Figure

From the Whiteboard tool:

1. Click on the arrow on the left.
   
2. Choose the figure you would like to resize with the Select tool.
3. Click and drag on one of the eight boxes that surround the object.
4. Move your mouse pointer to 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 tool:

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 tool:

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 tool:

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.

Displaying a Website with the Group Browser

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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.

Asking a Question

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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

Asking a Long Question

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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.

Starting a Breakout Session

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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.

Setting Virtual Classroom Options

From the Virtual Classroom tool:

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.

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: Why are some tools grayed out and inaccessible?
A: Your instructor has disabled some of the tools. Ask your instructor for more information regarding the tools you are able to use. Your instructor can give you temporary or permanent access to the Virtual Classroom tools by setting the Control options that students do not have access to.

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 will not be able to access some features.