Create Session

Blackboard Collaborate sessions should be used instead of the generic course room when you want to:

• Clearly name a session to designate session purpose
• Have groups of students meet in overlapping time slots
• Use session settings that are different from room settings
• Have a session with a predetermined start and end time

1. Under Course Tools in Course Management, click Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. 

   
2. Click Create Session. 
   
   
3. Give the session a name. Any recordings created in this session will have this name as well as the date and time of the recording. 
   
4. Set Event Details. If this is used for student self-directed work check the No end (open session) box so students have unlimited access to the collaborative space. 
   
5. If this is a recurring event such as a weekly lecture, check the Repeat session box, and set appropriate parameters. 
   
6. Expand Session Settings. 
   
7. If you want students to load or share content, select the Default Attendee Role to be Presenter. If students will also need to start a recording, select the Default Attendee Role to be Moderator. Otherwise, leave the default role as participant. For more information see students join room as moderators. 
   
8. As long as it does not violate intellectual property rights, select to Allow recording downloads for students to review material offline. 
   
9. By default participants in a session can share their audio, share their video, post chat messages, and draw. If you prefer student to not have access to these features, uncheck the boxes. See more information on Managing Participants in a session. 
    
10. Click Save.