Blackboard Collaborate is an online, collaborative learning platform well-suited for the education industry and corporate learning needs. It includes features such as screen and application sharing, web conferencing, and integration with Blackboard Learn.
$300
per year
Intermedia AnyMeeting Pro
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Intermedia AnyMeeting provides web-based video conferencing software designed for small businesses. With AnyMeeting, users have access to a variety of tools to help them host webinars, video conferences, and online meetings complete with screen sharing capabilities.
$9.99
per month per user
Pricing
Blackboard Collaborate
Intermedia AnyMeeting Pro
Editions & Modules
Classroom
$300.00
per year
Department
$9000.00
per year
Lite
$9.99
per month per user
Pro
$12.99
per month per user
Enterprise
$17.99
per month per user
Starter
Free
per month per user
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Blackboard Collaborate
Intermedia AnyMeeting Pro
Free Trial
No
Yes
Free/Freemium Version
No
Yes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
No
No
Entry-level Setup Fee
No setup fee
No setup fee
Additional Details
—
The monthly price on each plan reduces as the number of users increases.
I would say it is very useful for group collaborations online, as well as virtual classrooms where you wish your students/guests to collaborate in an adaptable environment; however I would advise against using the shared screen to display audio or video, nor would I encourage the use of the shared board with a group of people with disciplinary issues (as there is no accountability for who wrote/drew what).
AnyMeeting Pro is an easy-to-use tool and it is very resourceful as it comes with most features you would need for video conferencing and basic interactions. AnyMeeting conferencing eases most video conferencing issues. Most users can perform a video conferencing session at any time for strategy meetings or large groups. One of the features we enjoyed was seeing so many coworker's faces during the pandemic. It kept us connected with everyone.
The Whiteboard feature is perfect for tutoring. We use it to write out formulas, draw diagrams, etc while in video chat to enhance explanations.
The file attachment feature is also very handy. This means we don't have to do a follow-up with a student using their email to send files of handouts, etc.
It's great that we only have to share a classroom access link for a student to enter a session. With other products, they had to set up a username and log-in with an account. Link access means 1 less hassle.
We are currently beginning to use the "record session" feature video sessions to use as training for new employees.
Ease of use -- setting up a meeting is quick and simple, and so is presenting. PowerPoints can be pre-loaded into the system and displayed/controlled without screen-sharing. Questions and Answers are easily managed in a platform that allows you to view them in a single pane and dismiss them as you answer.
Customization of registration forms -- gather the information you need from your registrants.
Live Chat is always quick and helpful.
The webinar system is browser-based, even for presenters, so you can present from anywhere without needing to download an application.
Built-in time zone converter on our webinar registration pages is useful, as we invite companies worldwide to our webinars.
Some of the newest computer high resolution screens are not as compatible with the interface. The font and windows are much smaller and the user is not able to increase the size of the windows to make it easier to read/navigate.
The audio can sometimes be inconsistent and tune in and out when someone is speaking. This is not every time though and many times the audio is clear.
The login process takes a bit longer to get into the program. You have to go through a few step process and loading time to get into the application.
It could be clearer, from an admin standpoint, which meeting options allow you to record, prior to setting up the meeting. I don't use it frequently enough to remember which type of meeting will allow me to record, and it takes an extra minute to figure this out when I schedule meetings ahead of time.
It is a tool that faculty likes to use. It has so much flexibility to allow students to see a class even if they happen to not be available in the classroom.
Blackboard Collaborate is reliable and feature-rich. It's a great web conferencing tool for teaching & learning, offering polls, chat, video and audio, whiteboard, content sharing, and breakout rooms. Blackboard Collaborate can be used for virtual office hours, lectures, guest speakers, training, professional development, conferences, technical support, academic advising, and so much more. Blackboard Collaborate can be used separately from the learning management system or it can be integrated for a single sign-on experience. It supports recordings, playbacks, private sharing, and MP4 downloads. Overall, it's a solid tool and very reliable.
I give it a nine due to no fault really of the software. It mostly has to deal with buffering and bandwidth issues that could cause the program to not perform as promised. However, this is an area where most also fail. Our current software is horrible in comparison. Not being a decision-maker keeps us from enjoying AnyMeeting Pro on a more common basis. I would rather use this than Teams.
The availability of the software is quite impressive. You can access it at any time that you want and from anywhere that you want, but that depends on how the software is set up by the University. There might be sudden outages due to not having enough space on your database, which we had that very issue happen recently here at our University. During that time, you could not access their blackboard at all until it was brought up online again.
The performance of the software is remarkable. The loading speed of the pages is more than satisfying, it all depends on the users internet package. So far, there wasn't any issue of Blackboard slowing down other software or systems when integrated with them
Sometimes they do planned maintenance. Depending on the time zone you’re in, this may be in the middle of the night. That’s great. Sometimes this maintenance isn’t completed overnight however, and you need to use the platform and it is down. I’ve never been able to successfully contact them to report an outage or get assistance when it is down. I just have to wait until it comes back up to go to class, review sessions, etc.
Never had to deal with customer support myself. I was told by our tech team that they were pretty responsive and again most issues could not be resolved due to the bandwidth of those attending meetings. The higher the bandwidth the more amazing the performance and the overall meeting flow and results.
Nearpod does not allow for the same type of synchronous environment that Blackboard collaborate does. Further, Nearpod, as the name suggests is best suited for a face-to-face classroom that is, preferably, one-to-one. While it has some of the same functions as Nearpod, Blackboard collaborate is best suited for remote transmission rather than face-to-face
AnyMeeting's free version beats Zoom's free version because of the time limit Zoom imposes on free meetings. However, when going for a paid version, Zoom outperforms AnyMeeting's paid version. The video quality seems to be higher in Zoom. There is also more features available in Zoom as a whole, and I've never had someone not be able to join the Zoom meeting.
The reason for this rating is that the software is a pretty good tool that can be utilized for use in all of the Universities around the world. It has the capability to fulfill the needs of various different education systems. Although, there are slight improvements that are needed, therefore the rating is at 8.
Because faculty can schedule sessions on-the-fly without IT involvement, they are able to accomplish goals that they plan for weeks in advance as well as impromptu goals that come up at a moments notice.
Integration with the campus Learning Management Systems provides quick and easy scheduling of sessions that can be joined easily by students in those courses.
Scheduling of meetings can also be done through the web interface directly which enables administrative departments not associated with courses in the learning management system to also schedule meetings not affiliated with courses.
On-campus users can schedule meetings without outside participants by sending an open "guest link" URL that allows users to participate despite not having an account within the system iteself.
