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
Pricing
Blackboard Collaborate
Editions & Modules
Classroom
$300.00
per year
Department
$9000.00
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Blackboard Collaborate
Free Trial
No
Free/Freemium Version
No
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
No
Entry-level Setup Fee
No setup fee
Additional Details
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More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Blackboard Collaborate
Considered Both Products
Blackboard Collaborate
Verified User
Employee
Chose Blackboard Collaborate
I believe Blackboard Collaborate is a great app/platform, but like similar products; it should be used in tandem with alternatives. Blackboard Collaborate has features that I find in other apps/platforms, yet some are easier to learn and use. Such is the case with the feature …
Blackboard Collaborate is the only program of this kind that I have used so far, therefore I cannot compare against other programs that are alike. But, I would say that I will be using this tool for a long time, because it offers me almost everything that I need as of right now.
Blackboard Collaborate is ideal for teaching & learning whereas Webex and Zoom are business-focused. While Collaborate may lack some user-desired features, it more than makes up those features with its focus on participant/learner engagement. For example, polling is easier, …
Canvas LMS is a far more superior product, in fact, many schools switched to it from Blackboard while 0 switched from Canvas to BB. The reason is that Canvas is a Cloud-native tool and it is faster at implementing new features, fixing bugs, etc. It has a bigger advantage in the …
Bb Collaborate has educational tools unavailable in Skype or Google Hangouts and is available without the student needing to have an account or log-in information. The upswing is incredible, with highly interactive video tutoring capabilities. It is also integrated with a tutor …
Google Hangouts and Skype, while free and easy to use, do not provide the focus on educational settings that Collaborate Ultra does. They also do not provide the features for making a session accessible to attendees.
While Skype for Business is nice, it takes a few times to try and get into meetings. Also, Blackboard Collaborate has more tools that allow for the user to write on the whiteboard or on uploaded PowerPoints. Finally, the ability to place people into mini groups and allowing for …
We have used Skype for Business for meetings, however it does not have nearly the amount of features available as Collaborate and does not function as seamlessly.
Blackboard LMS and Collaborate's integration as well as support from one vendor makes it a first choice if you are already using Blackboard as your LMS.
Blackboard collaborate offers so many more features that help make a presentation successful. It offers the option for people to speak or chat at specific times, therefore keeping interruptions at a minimum during classes, but still lets people "raise their hand" should …
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 a great fit for an academic setting compared to some of the other products. Its layout is intuitive and user friendly, while providing many advanced features that other tools do not offer.
When Collaborate was chosen, other products investigated included Wimba (a predecessor), Big Blue Button, TinyChat, and others. Collaborate, though requiring a greater financial investment, was superior to other options in essentially all respects. Its integration into our …
While other products can handle more active participants in a meeting at one time, Blackboard Collaborate has a much simpler and easy-to-use interface that makes it an ideal product for one to many presentations. It integrates fully with multiple learning management systems to …
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).
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.