To ensure the best possible experience with Blackboard Collaborate, the ITS Online Learning Services team offers these tips (also available on Answers).
- Chrome and Firefox are the best browsers to use with Collaborate. The most recent version of these browsers will provide the best experience.
- The strength of your connection is key to a good experience in Collaborate. A hard-wired connection is preferred, but good positioning close to a strong wireless connection will work as well.
- Users should close all other applications on their computer except Collaborate. This is especially true of other streaming services (Spotify, Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, etc.).
- Similarly, we recommend talking to your family or roommates about maximizing available bandwidth when you need to work online by reducing streaming activity.
- Open video and audio channels for multiple users will dramatically increase the bandwidth requirements and can degrade the experience. Users should only use open video and audio when required for the experience. Text chat takes next to no bandwidth.
- Screen sharing by the instructor also dramatically increases the required bandwidth. Uploading PowerPoint files to Collaborate will provide a much better experience.
- Participants can monitor their connection status and moderators can monitor the connection of all participants. These monitors can indicate issues before you get kicked out of the session.
If you have issues with Blackboard Collaborate, you can refer to Answers or contact the ITS Service Center at 315.443.2677 or help@syr.edu.