Chicago State University

Manage the Collaboration Tools from the Collaboration Session page Instructors can access all of the Collaboration Sessions for the course, including those that have already taken place and are archived and those that are scheduled for the future.
Instructors can schedule new Collaboration Sessions and make changes to those already scheduled from this page.

To find the collaboration area:
1. Click on the course Control Panel
2. Click on the "Collaboration" link under Course Tools
This will take you to the collaboration area where, if available you will be able to participate in either a lightweight chat or the virtual classroom.

Lightweight Chat
The Lightweight Chat is a text-based chat tool that allows a group of users to conduct an online session through text-based messages. This text-based tool can be used alone or in conjunction with the enhanced Virtual Classroom. The tool also includes a control panel, through which an Instructor or moderator may allow or disallow access to particular functions.
Some of the features of the Lightweight Chat include:

- sending private messages
- viewing user information
- creating breakout sessions
- advanced archiving controls

To participate in a Lightweight Chat:
1. Follow the instructions for entering the collaboration area
2. Next click the "join" button to the right of the Lightweight Chat you would like to join. The Lightweight Chat will open in a new window (this may take a few moments).

*Important: Pop-up blockers on many machines will prevent the Lightweight Chat from opening. To override a pop-up blocker, hold the "Ctrl" key while clicking "Join". Disabling the pop-up blocker is another solution.

To participate, type your message into the "compose" window at the bottom of the screen and click "send".

Each course and organization begins with two default Collaboration Sessions. The Lecture Hall is the default Virtual Classroom, and Office Hours is the default Lightweight Chat. These default sessions can be removed. Removing a session is irreversible.

The following functions are available from the Collaboration Sessions page:

To create a new Collaboration Session
1) Click Collaboration Session at the top of the page. The Create Collaboration Session page will open.

2) Select dates of availability

3) Choose the proper collaboration tool for the session. (Virtual Classroom or Chat)

Filtering the sessions listed on the page
Click the arrow next to the drop-down list and select the type of session to display. Click Filter. The filters include:

Show All - The default filter that displays all of the Collaboration Sessions.
Available Sessions - Displays all available sessions
Sessions with Recordings - Displays sessions with recordings
Future Sessions - Displays sessions that are scheduled to take place in the future.

To search for a session
Type in the Session Name into the field & click Search.

Entering a session
Click 'Join' next to the session. The Virtual Classroom or Chat for that session will open.

Accessing the archives for a session
Click 'Archives' next to the session. The Session Archives page will appear.

Changing the name, availability, or tools used during the session
Click 'Manage' next to the session. The Modify Collaboration Session page will appear.

Delete a session
Click 'Remove' next to the session. This action is irreversible.

Collaboration Tools - Lightweight Chat and the Virtual Classroom
The Collaboration Tools allow the Instructor and Students to participate in real time lessons and discussions and also view archives of previous Collaboration sessions.

The Collaboration Tools can be used to hold real-time, online classroom discussions, TA sessions, and office hour type question/answer forums.

Guest speakers and subject matter experts can also communicate with the class using the Collaboration Tools.

The following Collaboration Tools are available:

Virtual Classroom - Allows users to enter a real-time discussion with Instructors, Students, and colleagues; access the Web; and engage in question and answer sessions.
Lightweight Chat - The Lightweight Chat is part of the Virtual Classroom but can also be accessed separately. It allows users to open just the Chat function of the Virtual Classroom.

Select Date(s) of Availability:
A Start and End date and time for the Collaboration Session can be set, but is not required. If these are not selected then the session is always open and available for participants. There is also the option to choose either a Start or an End date and time.

Click the Start After check box to choose a date and time to begin the Collaboration Session. The date can be selected by choosing from the drop-down lists next to the date or by clicking the calendar icon and selecting the date. Select the time to begin the session from the drop-down lists.

Click the End After check box to choose when the session will end. The date can be selected by choosing from the drop-down lists next to the date or by clicking the calendar icon and selecting the date. Select the time to begin the session from the drop-down lists.

Available:
Select Yes to make the session available to Students.

Select No and the session will not be visible to Students.

Collaboration Tools

Choose a collaboration tool for this session:
Select the tool that will be used during this session from the drop-down list. The two types of Collaboration Tools are:

Virtual Classroom - Allows users to enter a real-time discussion with Instructors, Students, and colleagues, access the Web, and engage in question and answer sessions.
Chat - The Chat is part of the Virtual Classroom, but can also be accessed separately. It allows users to open just the chat function of the Virtual Classroom.

Click here to view a animated tutorial on how to use the Collaboration tools which include the Virtual Classroom and the Chatrooms.