Share content
The Ultra experience of Blackboard Collaborate makes it easy to share your knowledge. You can upload content, including PowerPoint® presentations, or share your desktop screen to show more details.
Open the Collaborate panel and select Share Content. Select one of these share options to start sharing and collaborating with your attendees.
- Whiteboard
- Application
- File
Not sure where the Collaborate panel is? Jump to Find Your Way Around.
You can upload multiple presentations in a session as long as the total file size is 125 MB or less.
Share whiteboard
Collaborate the whiteboard. Open a blank whiteboard to draw or just jot down notes.
Moderators decide if participants can use the whiteboard and tools along with you during a session.
Share application
Share your desktop or a software application to teach students about a particular topic. Whenever you move through the application or desktop, your students automatically follow along.
Use ChromeTM or Firefox® when sharing applications. In Chrome, you will need to add the browser desktop sharing extension to share applications in Collaborate sessions. No desktop sharing extension is needed for Firefox.
More on adding the Chrome Desktop Sharing extension
When you share your desktop or application it is seen by everybody in the live session and anybody viewing the recording later. Make sure to close any windows and applications you don't want others to see before starting to share.
Application sharing is not currently supported for screen readers in Blackboard Collaborate. If you are using a screen reader, you can share files and a blank whiteboard with your attendees. You cannot share an application.
Share files
Upload GIF, JPEG and PNG images, PDF files, or PowerPoint presentations of 60MB or lower to your session. You can upload multiple presentations, however the total size allowed is 125 MB or lower for any session.
Screen reader users can access text from PowerPoint and PDF files shared in the session. This provides an easy way to follow along as slides change. Moderators and presenters must select Share Files and upload the files to Collaborate for screen readers to access the text.
Select Add Files Here or drag a file into the box to upload it. Select Share Now when you're ready for students to see the file. Moderators can choose to allow participants to mark up your shared file.
If you are recording your session, allow 8 seconds for the recording to include your shared file before moving on.
Content editing tools
Use these tools to edit and mark up shared files and the whiteboard.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
Select  |
Use the arrow to select an object on the whiteboard. After you select it you can resize, move, and delete it. |
Pointer
  |
Use the hand to point to different areas of the visible slide. Attendees see wherever you are pointing on the slide. |
Pencil
  |
Use the pencil to draw free hand on the slide. |
Shapes
  |
Use the Shapes icon to draw a rectangle, ellipse, or a straight line. Your choice. |
Text
  |
Type text on the slide with the "T". |
Clear
  |
Use the eraser to undo everything. |
View controls
 |
Show or hide your zoom, fit, and size controls. |
View controls opened
 |
Zoom in, Zoom out, Best Fit, Actual size
Best fit takes advantage of your screen real estate. Content adjusts to be completely viewable in the available area. It displays as large as possible while keeping the aspect ratio intact. |
Slide navigation controls
 |
Move to the previous our next slide.
With your keyboard, press Alt + Page Down to move back a slide and Alt + Page Up to move forward a slide. On a Mac, press Alt + Fn + Down Arrow or Alt + Fn + Up Arrow. Select the slide name to view all slides. |
Stop
 |
Stop sharing content. |
Manage raised hands
Attendees can raise their hands any time during your session. They do this to get your attention or ask a question. You can choose to call on them now or close the notification and call on them later.
An image of a person raising a hand appears beside attendees with their hand raised. Those attendees are also brought to the top of their role list in the Attendees panel so they aren't forgotten and are easily found.
Select Lower Hand in the notification to remove raised hands. Close the notification to leave the hand raised and come back to later.
You can also lower hands from the Attendees panel. Point to the attendee with their hand raised and select Attendees controls. Select Lower hand.
By default you are notified when someone raises their hand. If you do not see hand raise notifications when attendees raise their hands, check your Notification Settings in My Settings.
Mute attendees
Only moderators can mute attendees.
Recordings
Only moderators can record sessions. If you want to record a session, ask your moderator to start and stop the recording.
Source: Blackboard