What is Web Conferencing?

Web conferencing software allows groups of people to meet and collaborate online from their own computer. Participants usually click on a link distributed by email which allows them to enter the conference.

Presenters and participants interact using a variety of features such as: audio, video, instant messaging, shared interactive whiteboard, polling, file sharing and application sharing.

To find out more about the interactive tools you can use in a web conference, see: Participating in a Web Conference

What is BlackBoard Collaborate?

BlackBoard Collaborate is the software currently used by the Department to provide web conferencing to staff and educators around Victoria. The diagram below displays the main features of a BlackBoard Collaborate web conference.

BlackBoard Collaborate is:

• easy to install and use – you don’t need to download any large software files
• easy to join – all you have to do is click on a link in an email or website to enter a web conference
• cross platform - it supports Windows PC, Mac, Solaris, or Linux
• optimised for low bandwidth - you can interact with little lag time, regardless of internet connection speed, even at 28.8.kbps
• recordable – even if you miss a session, you can view it online at a later stage.