“Webinar” (“web-seminar”) is an umbrella term used to describe meetings, presentations, seminars or similar that are run in real-time over the internet. Webinars may also be referred to as: live sessions, web conferences, or online/virtual classrooms, seminars or meetings.
Blackboard Collaborate is our supported webinar software for teaching and learning activities, that can be used both for synchronous teaching or student collaborations within VLE sites, and for external speakers to present without any VLE log in required.
Learn more about Webinars
Due to the COVID pandemic in 2020 we have produced a large amount of training and guidance material around Collaborate and synchronous online activities. To access to latest guidance we recommend that you take a look at the following:
- A Crash Course in Collaborate Ultra [Blog Post], particularly the “scenario hub guides” which should link out to all required guidance for particular scenarios:
- Using Collab’ with One Group of Students via the VLE [GDoc]
- Using Collab’ with Multiple Groups of Students via the VLE (eg. seminars, reading groups) [GDoc]
- Using Collab’ with People not Enrolled on your VLE site (eg. Externals, other staff/students) [GDoc]
- Using Collab’ for Sensitive One-to-One Meetings/Consultations, etc [GDoc]
- Recording Collab’ Without an Audience to Create Video Resources for Later [GDoc]
- Securing Your Online Meetings (aka “Challenging Zoom Bombing”)
- Our summer 2020 webinar series area on the VLE, which contains guidance materials, resources and webinar recordings about Collaborate and much more: “PDLT Webinars 2020” resource VLE site.
In addition to the newer materials listed above, we also have our ‘legacy’ Collaborate material which is still relevant and up to date, but is not COVID-focussed:
- Introductory FAQs
- Why Run Webinars?
- Choosing a Suitable Platform
- Incorporating Webinars into Learning Design
Specific information about the Collaborate platform:
Programme Design and Learning Technology Team 