Using an iPad or tablet in a Bb Collaborate session
In order to use your iPad and stylus or other tablet device in a Bb Collaborate session, you have several options open to you.
Firstly you can use a cloud-based tool like OneNote to generate your annotations. Simultaneously, you are logged into the session on a computer and are syncing your cloud-based tool via that session so that your changes are shared in real-time.
Using OneNote Sync
Secondly, you could look at connecting on the second device to the session using a guest link and promoting the user.
Using your iPad/tablet as a second session login
Thirdly, you could look at mirroring your iPad using your Mac computer or using sidecar to extend your iPad as a second monitor for your computer. If you have a different tablet device, refer to the manufacturer for details on how to extend your desktop in this way.
Using your iPad as a second display on your mac
1. Open OneNote (on your computer)
To do this, you will need :
- Full computer with access to the full version of Bb Collaborate
- iPad (or other app-driven tablet).
Before you Begin: Enter your Blackboard course and access your Virtual Classroom to access to a session as a moderator.
Open the OneNote notebook that you will be using in the session.
In order to share via "Share Application" in Bb Collaborate, the application has to be open on your computer.
2. Open Bb Collaborate on a computer
Go to the Blackboard course where the session will be hosted.
Join the relevant Blackboard Collaborate Course Room or Session.
3. Use "Share Content Share Application" to share OneNote to the Bb Collaborate Session.
In your Bb Collaborate session, navigate to the "Share Content" tab.
Select on "Share Application/screen" in order to reveal the open applications on your computer (which can then be shared - you must have the application open for it to be available here.)
4. On your iPad, open your Notebook (via OneNote App)
Open the OneNote App on your iPad.
Open the same OneNote notebook that is already open on your other device.
5. Confirm that your OneNote Notebook is dynamically updating via your Bb Collaborate Session.
You can now use OneNote on your iPad as you normally would. OneNote is a cloud-based tool, which means that updating should sync automatically. Confirm that everything is syncing correctly by returning to your computer-based session. If it is not syncing, you'll want to ensure that you've selected to automatically sync all the elements of your notebook.
- In the app (this option is not available on the web app), go to "Settings and More" menu (indicated by the three dots).
- Select on "Settings" (with the gear icon).
- Select on "Options."
- Confirm that 4,5, and 6 are toggled to "on."
6. Use your computer-based session to manage the session.
You can now use the computer-based, full-functionality session to manage the chat, view the attendees, add polls and timers, and create break-out groups. As an added benefit, this also leaves OneNote full-screen on your tablet, allowing you additional space for drawing. The sync does work both ways, of course, so if you need to add an image or diagram, you can do this on your computer and it will display on your iPad for annotation.
Having two devices logged into one session is sometimes used by instructors as a means to access a session, and share an application on the secondary device.
To do this, you can use a guest link to login as a "student" , and promote this user to a moderator on the second device. Note that you cannot be logged into one session more than once - unless you invite yourself with your own guest invitation.)
Note that that this may impact on your local network connection, if you do not have adequate bandwidth to support two concurrent connections.
To do this:
- Copy and send yourself the Guest URL to your session (before you enter the Bb Collaborate session).
- Without logging out of your primary session, login concurrently (using the Guest URL) to the session on your iPad (or secondary device). You will not be allowed to login via your course more than once.
- Use your Moderator session to promote your iPad user (or secondary device) to "Moderator."
With sidecar, you can use your iPad as a display that extends or mirrors your Mac desktop.
You can then select the application on your iPad to share it directly within the Blackboard Collaborate session on your mac.