Collaborate virtual classroom

Collaborate is a live, collaborative, web-based tool that allows staff and students to screen-share, share audio and video, poll students and collaborate using a virtual whiteboard from within FLO.

Collaborate is available to 250 users at any one time and a booking system in FLO is available to pre-book dates and times for classes in Collaborate.

If you are interested in using Collaborate for your teaching, please contact your local eLearning support team to discuss or have a look at the support materials available in the eLearning Gateway.

If you want to set up a virtual meeting outside of FLO, you can use WebEx web conferencing software or Microsoft Teams.

Useful links

Moderator visual guide

Participant visual guide

Frequently asked questions

Online training

Support materials

Information for moderators

Meeting support

The following types of Pre-arranged Collaborate meeting support are available:

Support and training for Collaborate moderators
Support is available to enable meeting moderators (teachers in a session) to become familiar with Collaborate, and to learn how to use the tools. Support materials are available in the eLearning Gateway.
Training sessions are held usually at the start of each semester. Please book into a session or place yourself on the waiting list.
Practice sessions are offered to new Collaborate users upon request. This service is generally offered between 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Contact your eLearning support teams for assistance. A moderators quick reference guide is also available for use (highly recommended).
Practice sessions for students
A course room is generally available in topics with Collaborate enabled. This room is open at all times, students can visit this room to set up their Audio/Video prior to scheduled sessions.
In-meeting support
A member of the FLO Student Help Desk can sit in on the first Collaborate meeting to assist with any issues that arise (staff or students).
This can be offered during business hours, and out of hours by negotiation. Contact mailto: flo.student@flinders.edu.au (note: support requests must be sent at least one week in advance)
Advanced troubleshooting
If a significant issue has occurred during a Collaborate session, a Collaborate administrator can attend the following session to offer advanced diagnosis and troubleshooting.
This can be offered during business hours. Contact your local eLearning support team, providing as much detail as possible about the error(s) that occurred.

Before you start presenting (at least 15 minutes before session starts)

Enter your Collaborate meeting (via your FLO topic).
Visit the audio and video settings to set up your camera and microphone.
Upload your presentation as an opening page.
Have the Collaborate moderator visual guide next to you for reference.

Information for participants

Go to your FLO topic and select the Collaborate icon

Enter the room, either click on the session name (for a scheduled session) or if using the Course Room (no bookings, open at all times), click Join room, alternatively you can access by a supplied URL.

You will also need to follow a few simple steps to ensure your computer is ready to run Collaborate.

At least one day before the meeting...

Read the participant visual guide
If you want to familiarise yourself with the technology go to the Course Room (available at all times, click on Collaborate in your topic – Click Join Room)

15 minutes before the meeting...

Enter the Collaborate meeting room
Run the Audio and Video Setup during your first use of Collaborate. For instructions please refer to the participant visual guide.
Make sure you can hear others and (if needed), If you are having problems with audio you can use your phone to dial in, click the Use your phone for audio link to generate a phone number and a unique pin for entry
If you experience any problems accessing Collaborate or have any problems setting up your audio please contact the FLO Student Help Desk on 1300 FLINDERS (1300354633) or send an email to flo.student@flinders.edu.au

During the meeting...

Use the status icons to indicate your understanding. You can raise your hand to ask a question, agree, disagree, applaud and more

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't my microphone work?

Have you done the audio and video settings setup?
My Settings>>Audio and Video Settings>> Setup your camera and microphone
Check that you have plugged in your microphone correctly.
Check your sound settings.
Start>>Control Panel>>sound and audio devices>>click on the Audio tab>>under sound recording click on volume and make sure the microphone option is selected and the volume is turned up.
Confirm with the moderator that you have permission to use the camera & voice pod.

Why can't I hear?

Have you done the audio and video settings setup?
My Settings>>Audio and Video Settings>> Setup your camera and microphone
Have you checked that your headset is plugged in correctly?Have you checked your volume controls?
Click on the volume icon in the system tray and ensure that master volume is not muted and volume is turned up.
Do you have an additional volume control on your keyboard or laptop? Is it set to mute or low volume level?
Do you have a volume control on your headset? Is it set to mute or low volume level?

Why am I experiencing audio delays?

Check your microphone.
My Settings>>Audio and Video Settings>> Setup your camera and microphone
You may be on a relatively slow internet connection. Close all other applications requiring internet, especially email, webcam etc.
Ask the moderator to turn off video in the entire room
Wait till others have finished speaking before you press your microphone button.

Why can’t I share applications/files?

Confirm with the moderator that you have permission to share content eg. Presenter rights
The following file types are supported by the documents dropdown option Powerpoint (ppt), PDF (pdf).
All other file types to be shared are to be done through Share Content Screen then select Share Applications. You must stay in the application you are sharing for other to see it.

Need further information?

If you experience difficulties with Collaborate or require assistance setting up your session please contact your eLearning support team.

Note: If your students experience ongoing technical issues during a session please remind them to contact the FLO Student Help Desk in the Library on 1300 FLINDERS (1300354633) or email flo.student@flinders.edu.au.

eLearning support team contacts