Step 10: Communication Tools

Introduction

On this page, you will identify which tools are used when communicating with a professor including Zoom, Voicethread and Microsoft Teams

Communication Tools

Communicating with your Instructor and Class can happen using a multitude of tools including Face-to-Face interactions, Telephone interactions, Collaborate (which is the built in tool in Blackboard), Voicethread (an asynchronous tool), Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

The table below has a list of common features or tasks that you might accomplish. Note that the first column represents both Face-To-Face and Telephone communications and while limited in scope, is used to show you the broad capabilities of the other tools featured. 

The order of the list does not represent the allegiance that the IDEA Team has to each tool, rather the popularity on campus from least used to most used. 

Zoom

Zoom is the #1 videoconferencing tool used for classes and meetings at SSW. Zoom is available at https://umaryland.zoom.us by logging in with the SSO login and your UMID. Support is offered through help@umaryland.edu or 410-706-HELP. Zoom is offered as a "Licensed" account to all SSW faculty, staff, and students, with equal access to settings, meetings and recordings. See more about Zoom. 

Voicethread

Voicethread is an asynchronous tool for presentations, communicating, and discussion. Please start by reading the student voicethread page  and then view the presentation using this link, in which you can also practice adding a brief comment. You will need to be logged into https://umaryland.voicethread.com with your UMID first, in order to add a comment.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams (formally Skype for Business) is a group collaboration tool that provides for team communication, collaboration, persistent workplace chat, video meetings, file storage (including collaboration on files), and application integration using Office 365. This tool is perfect for student group communication. (Note that few if any classes at SSW are officially using this tool, but we mention it because you do have access and can use it to communicate with fellow students.) 

• 1. Visit office.com and click Sign in.

  2. Login using your UMID.

  3. Authenticate via Duo.

  4. Select Teams from the list of available icons. 

  5. In the search bar, type the name or email address of the person you wish to message.

  6. Type a New Message to begin an instant messaging session.

  7. You can add video and audio or create a Team with more than one person.

  8. There are loads of resources about Teams on YouTube or via Microsoft's website. If you plan to use Microsoft Teams in any capacity, we encourage you to check these resources out. 

Blackboard Collaborate

Blackboard Collaborate is a tool for synchronous communication that may include audio, video, screen sharing, polls, text chat, breakout rooms, whiteboards, slides, and images. Very few instructors at SSW use Collaborate, as most have changed to using Zoom instead.

• • Blackboard Collaborate works best with GOOGLE CHROME, not Internet Explorer or Safari. (See more system requirement information.) 

  • We highly recommend you plug in earbuds, headphones, or a USB headset and make sure audio is going out of them before entering the Collaborate room. You will have more control over the volume and it will be easier to hear all participants this way. 

• One of the main things you may need to do after entering a Collaborate session is the click the purple arrows that are in the lower right of the screen, which will open up a panel so that you can get to the text chat, settings, participants, etc. 

• For those who have problems connecting to audio via the computer, a telephone number and PIN code are provided as well. 

• To access this # and pin code, click on the 3 white lines in the far upper left in the Collaborate room, and click  Use your phone for audio 

  • The PIN # is different for each participant, so your instructor can't give that to you in advance. 

  • Here is a link to tips for students using the BlackBoard Collaborate platform for the first time -(https://enus.help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Participant).

  • Please review the tips for getting started before entering your first session.

Page Summary

On the Communication Tools page, you learned about various platforms used for interacting with professors and classmates, including Zoom, Voicethread, Microsoft Teams, and Blackboard Collaborate. Zoom emerged as the primary videoconferencing tool, providing seamless class and meeting experiences. Voicethread, an asynchronous platform, facilitated presentations and discussions, enhancing collaboration beyond real-time interactions. Microsoft Teams, offering group collaboration features, stood out for its utility in student group communication, despite its limited use in official SSW classes. Additionally, Blackboard Collaborate, though less commonly used, provided synchronous communication with a range of features like audio, video, and text chat. You also gained insights into accessing and utilizing these tools effectively, ensuring smooth communication throughout your academic journey. 

Exercise

1. Log in to Office.com and launch Microsoft Teams.

2. Familiarize yourself with Teams and begin a chat with anyone from the IDEA Team (hint: their names are at the beginning of this tutorial).

3. After you have completed exercise 10, please go to Step 11.