Third and final case study in the series (part 1 and part 2)
Caroline Galon, Graduate Teaching Assistant, in Performing Arts, explains the importance of mastering any new technology and how Blackboard Collaborate provides her with the most stable and reliable platform from which to conduct her research interviews. Caroline tell us how 
crucial it is for her research that she has confidence using the technology, especially as her research involves meeting online with extremely busy people, experts from around the world.
On attending training and after talking to her Faculty Learning Technologist, Caroline explains why she continued using Blackboard Collaborate and how she felt it offered her the complete and robust solution she needed. It was also important to Caroline, that the web conferencing tool used is widely supported in terms of providing best practice resources, guidance and buddy support, particularly as a first time user.
Caroline describes her own experience of interviewing participants, all of whom are external to Edge Hill University with no previous experience of Blackboard Collaborate and the challenges she faced along the way. She continues to compare Blackboard Collaborate with Skype, which she feels is more user friendly.
The next release of Collaborate, ‘Ultra’, is currently being evaluated by LTD with internal stakeholders and external colleagues. It has the potential to offer significant benefits over the current version, such as ease of entry and a more attractive and intuitive interface.
Blackboard’s release notes will tell you more about the < The Ultra Experience https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Moderator/030_Get_Started/Navigation > and < The Ultra Changes https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Administrator/030_Changes.
If you feel inspired by this and other videos in the series and want to learn more about web conferencing (Blackboard Collaborate) and other technologies, your Learning Technologist can help.
In addition, you can access to Blackboard Collaborate training session, talk to your Learning Technologist for more information.
Martin Baxter
Learning Technology Development Officer