Blackboard Collaborate with the Original experience allows participants to join a session using Windows or iOS. Follow the steps below to join a session.
Join a Session on Windows
Use the following steps to join a Collaborate session on a computer using Microsoft Windows:
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Point to Tools and click Blackboard Collaborate to access the Blackboard Collaborate Scheduler Page.
- Access the Room Details page and click Join Room.
Three things can happen:
- If this is your first time using the Blackboard Collaborate Launcher: Blackboard Collaborate prompts you to download and install the launcher. Install it before proceeding.
- If you installed Blackboard Collaborate Launcher: Blackboard Collaborate prompts you to open the meeting.collab file.
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If you installed the launcher but Blackboard Collaborate prompts you to download it: Click Launch Blackboard Collaborate now. This may happen in the following situations:
- You cleared your cache and cookies last time you exited your browser.
- You are using private or secure browsing.
- You installed the launcher using one browser but now are launching a session in another browser.
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Your browser prompts you to open the meeting.collab file. How you open the file depends on which browser you are using. The behavior of each browser may vary depending on how you configured its settings.
- Firefox asks you what to do with the .collab file. Select Open with and then Blackboard Collaborate Launcher from the drop-down list. If there is no drop-down list, click Choose and open your Downloads folder to select Blackboard Collaborate Launcher.
The option Do this automatically for files like this from now on does not work due to a bug in Firefox. If you want to open files automatically next time, use Chrome.
- Internet Explorer asks you what to do with the .collab file. Click Open.
- Chrome presents the .collab file at the bottom of your browser window. Click the file name.
If you want future session files to open automatically, select Always open files of this type from the menu and then double-click the file name.
- Firefox asks you what to do with the .collab file. Select Open with and then Blackboard Collaborate Launcher from the drop-down list. If there is no drop-down list, click Choose and open your Downloads folder to select Blackboard Collaborate Launcher.
Your Blackboard Collaborate session opens.
Join a Session from a Mac
Use the following steps to join a session on an Apple computer:
- Access the Room Details page and click Join Room. Three things can happen:
- If this is your first time using the Blackboard Collaborate Launcher: Blackboard Collaborate prompts you to download and install the launcher. Install it before proceeding.
- If you installed Blackboard Collaborate Launcher: Blackboard Collaborate prompts you to open the meeting.collab file.
- If you installed the launcher but Blackboard Collaborate prompts you to download it: Click Launch Blackboard Collaborate now. This may happen in the following situations:
- You cleared your cache and cookies last time you exited your browser.
- You are using private or secure browsing.
- You installed the launcher using one browser but now are launching a session in another browser.
- Your browser prompts you to open the meeting.collab file. How you open the file depends on which browser you are using. The behavior of each browser may vary depending on how you configured its settings.
- Firefox asks you what to do with the .collab file. Select Open with and then Blackboard Collaborate Launcher from the drop-down list. If there is no drop-down list, click Choose and open your Downloads folder to select Blackboard Collaborate Launcher.
The option Do this automatically for files like this from now on does not work due to a bug in Firefox. If you want to open files automatically next time, use Chrome.
- With Safari, open your Downloads folder and then open the .collab file.
- Chrome presents the .collab file at the bottom of your browser window. Click on the file name.
If you want future session files to open automatically, select Always open files of this type from the menu and then double-click the file name.
- Firefox asks you what to do with the .collab file. Select Open with and then Blackboard Collaborate Launcher from the drop-down list. If there is no drop-down list, click Choose and open your Downloads folder to select Blackboard Collaborate Launcher.
- If this is your first time using the launcher, your operating system prompts you to open it. Click Open.
- Blackboard Collaborate prompts you to move the launcher to the Applications folder. Although this is not necessary, doing so will help keep your Downloads folder uncluttered.
Select Do not show this message again so you will not see this dialog next time you launch Blackboard Collaborate.
Your Blackboard Collaborate session opens.
The Blackboard Collaborate Launcher
Join from your mobile device
- Open a browser on your mobile device.
- Navigate to your online course.
- Tap the scheduled Collaborate session to launch it. It opens in the Collaborate mobile app.
