- Troubleshooting Access to BBB
- Minimum Requirements for BigBlueButton
- Connecting to a BigBlueButton session.
- Step 1: Locating a BBB session in Brightspace
- Step 2: Joining the BBB session
- Step 3: Connecting your audio in BBB
- Participating in a BigBlueButton session.
- Features for Viewers.
BigBlueButton (BBB) is a web conferencing tool for hosting virtual classroom meetings. Instructors and TAs may use it to conduct live classes, tutorials, office hours, and similar meetings Instructors may also create BBB activities as a virtual space for you to connect with your fellow classmates and coordinate group projects.
Users can communicate through audio and/or webcam and make use of numerous collaborative features, such as public chat, a group note-taking tool, and a shared whiteboard. Additional features include Breakout Rooms for small group discussion, as well as a variety of presentation tools. (Please note that not all features may be enabled in your session.)
If your instructor has created a BBB session for your course, you can access the activity and the videos for any recorded sessions through your D2L Brightspace course page.
–>Want a quick peak at how to use BigBlueButton? Checkout this helpful Student Video Overview of BBB.
Troubleshooting Access to BBB
If students encounter an error message when attempting to join a BBB session, the likely cause is that their web browser is blocking 3rd party cookies. Because Brightspace links externally to BBB, blocking 3rd party cookies will prevent your access to a BBB session.
To ensure BBB access:
- Turn off Incognito or Private mode. Privacy settings are great for preventing crosssite tracking, but they also stop you from getting into your webconferencing sessions. Most browsers block 3rd party cookies by default in these secret modes.
- Use the right browser for your device:
- Laptop/desktop — use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.
- iPhone/iPad — use Safari
- Android phone or tablet — use Chrome
- Enable 3rd party cookies in your browser. Follow these links for instructions:
Minimum Requirements for BigBlueButton
We recommend the following for full access to BBB’s features:
Reliable Computing Devices
- A laptop or desktop computer, minimum 2GHz processor and 4GB RAM.
- Any Chromebook, minimum 1.5GHz and 4GB RAM.
Make sure that the Operating System is up to date. (Check here for a list of other supported devices and their requirements.)
Up to date Modern Web Browsers
Only Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge (Chromium version) support full BBB functionality.
Make sure that your browser is up to date. Check these links for instructions on how to manually check for updates:
Highspeed Internet Connection / Bandwidth
Minimum 2Mbps download and 2Mbps upload. (Check your internet speed here.)
For a more reliable and stable connection, we recommend connecting to your router/modem directly via Ethernet if possible.
Audio Devices
Use a wired headset with microphone, if possible.
Internal laptop microphones are often of low quality, can pick up ambient noise, or are positioned such that they loop the audio from the laptop speakers. Using a wired headset will provide much cleaner and clearer audio.
Connecting to a BigBlueButton session.
Step 1: Locating a BBB session in Brightspace
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- Log in to Brightspace with your MyCarletonOne username and password.
- Click on your course under My Courses or the course selector grid
- Click Content in the course Navbar.
- In the left sidebar, click the module name under Table of Contents to jump to the module that holds your BigBlueButton session. Alternatively, you can scroll down the page to locate the BigBlueButton link.
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| Note: Read carefully the title of the BBB session to make sure you are accessing the correct activity. Depending on how the course homepage is laid out, there may be separate links, e.g., for different class sessions or types of course activities. If multiple BBB sessions are set up in your course, clicking on one BBB link will not provide access to them all. But if, for instance, the same BBB link is being used for all lectures, there may be a master link near the top of the course homepage. |
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Step 2: Joining the BBB session
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- Click on the BigBlueButton session link in the Content area of your course. This will bring you to the Join Session page.
- Double-check the session title on the Join Session page to make sure you are joining the correct meeting.
- Click on the Join Session button to enter the BBB room. Your BBB session will open in a new web-browser tab.
| Note: The Join Session button will not appear if the BBB session has been programmed to be available during a specific timeframe or to wait for the instructor to start the meeting. In either case, a message on the Join Session screen will indicate which it is. |
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Step 3: Connecting your audio in BBB
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| Upon joining a BBB session (or Breakout Room), you will be asked to configure your audio. This process must be completed in order to hear or speak in the session; do NOT close or exit out of the audio settings window. [For a better audio experience, we recommend using a wired headset.]
| Note: If at any point in the session you would like to change your audio settings, you can disconnect and reconnect your audio by clicking on the “telephone” button at the bottom of the BBB screen. Disconnecting will erase your current audio settings; reconnecting will return you to the audio configuration process. |
There are two main ways to participate with audio in a BBB session, and one emergency option:
Listen only: BBB will use your system’s default speaker only. You will be able to hear audio in the session, but you will not have the ability to participate over microphone.
Microphone: BBB will use your system’s default microphone and speaker for the session. You will be able to both hear and speak to others in the session. To connect:
- Click on Microphone. This will bring you to a new settings window called the Echo Test.
- Speak a few words into your microphone. BBB will route your microphone to your headset/speaker.
- If you can hear yourself, click Yes to join the session.
- If you CANNOT hear yourself (or BBB is using the wrong microphone and/or speaker), click No. This will bring you to a new window where you can manually choose your preferred audio device(s). Select your device(s) from the drop-down menu and then click Retry to return to the Echo Test.
| Note: Depending on your privacy and security settings, a drop-down window may appear in your browser asking whether to “Allow” or “Block” the use of your microphone. Click “Allow to continue with the Echo Test. |
| Phone Bridge (for emergencies) |
| If you are experiencing computer or internet issues, the Phone Bridge is an alternative means of connecting to the audio in a BBB session. It allows you to observe the BBB session on your computer while listening/speaking over the phone.
The connection information can be found at the top of the Public Chat window or by clicking the “Join using your phone” link in the How would you like to join the audio? configuration window. There is a local Ottawa number and a toll-free North America number, and a conference pin that is unique to each BBB lobby.
Upon dialing in, you will be prompted to enter the conference pin followed by the pound (#) key. Once connected, you can (un)mute yourself by pressing “0” (zero).
Note: The main lobby and Breakout Rooms have unique conference pins. When joining a Breakout Room during the session, you will need to call the BBB phone number again and enter the new conference pin. |
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Participating in a BigBlueButton session.
Your capabilities and the features available to you depends on your role in the BBB session. There are three role types: Viewers, Moderators, and Presenters. By default, students are assigned as Viewers (indicated by a circle user icon), and instructors and teaching assistants are assigned as Moderators (indicated by a square icon).
Features for Viewers.
Webcams
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This feature allows you to stream the image from your computer device’s camera in the BBB lobby. The webcam feature is enabled by default for all participants in a BBB session. [See below for instructions on changing your view of other participants’ webcams on screen.]
- How do I use my webcam?
- Click on the Camera icon at the bottom of the BBB screen to the right of the audio configuration “telephone” icon.
- A new Webcam Settings window will open on your screen.
- Select which camera device you would like to use (if you have more than one connected) and the level of quality (Low, Medium, High, or High Definition) from the drop-down menus.
- Click the “Start Sharing” button at the bottom of the Webcam Settings window.
- Can I make a webcam bigger?
There are four ways to change the size of a webcam tile for yourself:
- Click on the “four outward arrows” button in the top right-hand corner of a webcam tile to make it full-screen.
- Click on the blue Hide presentation button in the top right-hand corner of the Presentation window to minimise the slide presentation. (The Presentation window can be restored by clicking on the Restore presentation icon at the far-right bottom corner of the BBB screen.)
- Hover your cursor over the bottom border of the webcam image. (Or the top border, if the webcam ribbon has been moved below the Presentation window.) The cursor will now turn into a Resize tool (two vertical arrows pointing in opposite directions). Click, hold, and drag to resize the webcam tile/ribbon in relation to the Presentation window.
- Click on the “down arrow” next to the name on a specific webcam tile and select Focus. This will make that webcam larger in relation to other webcams in the ribbon. (This feature only works when at least three webcams are active in the lobby.)
- Can I see everyone's webcam? Can they see me?
By default, all participants in a BBB session can view all active webcams. BBB’s current settings permit only 5 webcams to appear on-screen at a time (and in alphabetical order according to username). Participants can scroll through the various active webcams by hovering over the webcam ribbon and clicking on the left and right arrows at the far sides of the ribbon.
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Breakout Rooms
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The Breakout Rooms tool creates separate sessions within a BBB meeting for small group activities, such as content discussion, brainstorming, peer review, and debates. Depending on the settings the instructor chooses, you may be assigned to a Room or asked to choose your own.
- How do I join a Room?
When the instructor or another moderator creates Breakout Rooms, a new window will appear on your screen with an invitation to join a Room.
If you have been assigned to a Breakout Room, there will be only the options to Join the Room or ignore the invitation for the moment.
If the self-select option has been enabled, the Breakout Room invitation will include a drop-down menu of the available Rooms.
Clicking on the Join button will open a new tab in your web-browser dedicated to the Breakout Room. Clicking Cancel will return you to the view of the main lobby. [To join your Breakout Room after clicking cancel or to self-select a different Room, see “How do I get back into my Room” below.]
When first entering a Room, you will be asked to conduct the Echo Test again to configure your audio. (The same thing will happen when the Rooms close and you are returned to the main lobby.)
A timer at the top centre of the BBB screen will show you how much time is left in the Breakout Room session. A separate notification will appear on your screen when the Breakout session is about to expire.
- What features are available to me in the Breakout Rooms?
All participants have limited Moderator status abilities in Breakout Rooms, regardless of their status in the main lobby. As such, everyone has the ability to assume and assign the Presenter role, which will allow you to upload a presentation, activate the Multi-User Whiteboard, and initiate other activities.
- How do I get back into my Breakout Room?
If you leave your Breakout Room or decline the invitation, there is an option to rejoin. When Rooms are active, a new “Breakout Room” tab will appear above the User List at the far-left side of the BBB screen.
- Click on the Breakout Rooms tab in the main lobby to expand the menu window. This menu will show which Rooms you have been invited to join.
- Click on the Join Room link next to your Breakout Room to join that Room.
If, however, you have exited the BBB session entirely and the Breakout Rooms are assigned (not self-select), ask the instructor/moderator to re-invite you to a Room.
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Raise Hand / Set Status
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| Status icons are symbols and emojis you can use to give non-verbal feedback in a BBB session, whether in response to a prompt from the instructor or even just to indicate your mood. When activated, the symbol/emoji will appear within your User Icon and remain there until either you or the instructor resets your status.
Among the various options (e.g., thumbs up/down, happy face, confused face, etc) is the option to Raise your hand, just like you would in a face-to-face classroom.
- How do I use status icons?
- Click on your User Icon in the User List at the far-left side of the BBB screen. [If you have collapsed this column, click on the “head-and-shoulders” bust icon at the top-left corner of the screen to expand the window.]
- Click on Set status in the menu that opens. This will reveal a drop-down menu with status options.
- Select a status icon from the list by clicking on it.
The initials in your User Icon should now be replaced with the status icon you selected. If you would like to switch to a different status icon, go back to the “Set status” menu and click on a different item.
To remove your status icon:
- Click on your User Icon in the User List.
- Select the Clear status option in the menu.
- How do I raise/lower my hand?
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- Click on your User Icon in the User List at the far-left side of the BBB screen. [If you have collapsed this column, click on the “head-and-shoulders” bust icon at the top-left corner of the screen to expand the window.]
- Click on Set status in the menu that opens. This will reveal a drop-down menu with status options.
- Select the Raise status icon (in the shape of a flat, open hand) from the list by clicking on it.
Your User Icon will now feature a “hand” symbol. Additionally, your User Icon will now move to the top of the User List to make it easier for the instructor to see. If multiple participants have raised their hand, the User List will be arranged in the order that hands were raised.
The instructor has the option to lower your hand after addressing your question, comment, etc. If you would like to lower your own hand (e.g., because your question was answered for someone else):
- Click on your User Icon in the User List.
- Select the Clear status option in the menu.
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Multi-User Whiteboard
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The whiteboard tool can be used for collaborative annotation (drawing, writing, etc) on the BBB screen using your mouse or a graphic tablet. If you have joined the session from a device with a touchscreen, you can use your finger or a stylus to write on the screen.
- How do I access the writing tools?
Use of the whiteboard in the main lobby is limited to the instructor by default, but there is the option to make it available to individual users (Presenter role) or to everyone (multi-user whiteboard).
Since all participants in a Breakout Room can assume the Presenter role, it is possible for anyone to access the whiteboard and give access to everyone in the Room.
When the whiteboard option is enabled, a vertical column of buttons will appear at the far-right side of the presentation window.
- What features are available?
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Clicking on the topmost icon will extend a tray with various writing tools:
- Hand (panning) tool: When the BBB presentation is zoomed in, this tool will move the slide around. Click, hold, and drag to move the slide. It also doubles as a laser pointer.
- Pencil: For free-hand drawing.
- Shapes: For creating Squares, Triangles, and Circular objects. Click, hold, and drag to create your dimensions. Release to place the image.
- Line: For creating straight lines.
- Text box: To create a field you can type in. Click, hold, and drag to create the dimensions of the text box. Release to create, and then begin typing. Click anywhere on the screen to close your text box. (There is no need to click inside the text box before typing. Doing so will erase your text box.)
Depending on the tool you choose, additional options will appear beneath the writing tool tray:
- Solid dot icon: Change the width/size of your lines.
- Solid square icon: Change the colour of your lines.
- Text letters: Change the font size for your text box.
The bottommost three icons are standard features:
- Backward arrow: Undo your last annotation.
- Trash bin: Delete all annotations.
- Rectangle with a line: Activate and deactivate the Multi-User Whiteboard. (This option is only available to the Presenter.)
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Public Chat
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This tool is for posting messages, comments, questions, etc that are visible to everyone in a lobby.
| Note: There is no anonymous Public chatting. Messages will include your cuLearn username and a timestamp. |
- How do I use the Chat?
You can expand or collapse the Public Chat window my clicking the Public Chat tab above the User List on the far-left side of the BBB screen.
Type your message in the “Send message to Public Chat” field at the bottom of the window. Click the blue arrow icon beside it to send.
Any URL’s (i.e., web addresses) posted in the Chat will automatically become active hyperlinks. If the session is being recorded, they will be hyperlinks in the BBB interactive video player as well.
- Can I save the content of the Chat?
To save the Public Chat, click on the three dots menu icon in the top right-hand corner of the Public Chat window.
The Save option will automatically download a text file to your device’s default Downloads folder, unless you have changed your computer’s or browser’s download settings.
The Copy option will save the contents to your device’s clipboard so that you can manually paste it in a word-processing document of your choice.
| Note: The main lobby and Breakout Rooms have separate Public Chats, and neither is automatically saved. When Breakout Rooms close, the Public Chat in that Room will no longer be accessible to you. Be mindful of the countdown timer, and save your work. |
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Private Chat
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| The Private Chat feature creates a closed conversation between you and the instructor, teaching assistant, or any other moderator in a session (i.e., participants with square user icons).
By default, you can engage in a Private Chat with session moderators only. But your instructor may enable the Private Chat feature for everyone.
- How do I start a Private Chat?
To initiate a Private Chat, click on the instructor’s, TA’s, or moderator’s name in the User List at the far-left side of the BBB screen. In the menu that appears, select Start a Private Chat. The Private Chat window will open in place of the Public chat.
Alternately, a moderator may initiate a Private Chat with you. (See “How do I use it?” below.)
- How do I use the Private Chat?
Aside from the privacy aspect, the Private Chat operates the same way as the Public Chat. Only you and the other person involved in the Private Chat can view, contribute to, and save the content of the Chat.
When a Private Chat has been initiated (whether by you or by a moderator), a new tab will be created above the User List with the name of the other participant in that Chat. Click on the tab to expand or collapse the Private Chat.
The Private Chat uses the same window area as the Public Chat and Shared Notes. You can toggle between the different windows by clicking on their respective tabs above the User List.
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Shared Notes
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| The Shared Notes is a writing space intended for real-time, collaborative note-taking where participants can add and modify content.
All participants can view the Shared Notes. However, by default, editing the Shared Notes in the main lobby is limited to moderators (i.e., participants with square user icons, such as instructors). Your instructor may enable editing for all participants in the main lobby.
Everyone can view and edit the Shared Notes in Breakout Rooms.
| Notes: The usernames of those writing in the Shared Notes do not appear in real time, but a record is created of authors and the content they have contributed. |
- Where do I find the Shared Notes?
Click on the Shared Notes tab above the User List at the far-left side of the BBB screen to expand or collapse the Shared Notes window. An alert symbol will appear on the tab when there is new content.
The Shared Notes uses the same window area as the Public Chat. You can switch between the two views by clicking on their respective tabs above the User List.
- Is the Shared Notes like a chat?
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No, that is not its primary function. The Shared Notes tool is like a word-processing document. Continuous text can be added, and content can be deleted and formatted.
- What features are available in the Shared Notes?
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Formatting and style options can be found at the top of the Shared Notes window for creating more dynamic notes.
Participants can annotate the text using the bold, italics, underline, and strike-through styles, and even create bullet lists (both symbols and numbers).
There are also options to undo and redo edits.
- Can I save the content of the Shared Notes?
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Click on the down arrow icon at the top right-hand corner of the Shared Notes window to export the contents of the Shared Notes.
In the drop-down menu that appears, you are given several file-format options, including PDF and Microsoft Word. Selecting the file format will automatically download the file to the default Downloads folder on your device, unless you have changed your computer’s or browser’s download settings.
If the BBB session has been recorded, a copy of the main lobby Shared Notes will be saved automatically with the content as it was when the session ended. To access this, click on the Format Note Html link next to Video link in the Recordings menu. (See “Viewing Recordings” section below.)
| Note: The Breakout Rooms have separate Shared Notes, and it is automatically saved. When Breakout Rooms close, the Shared Notes in that Room will no longer be accessible to you. Be mindful of the countdown timer, and save your work. |
- Can I import a file to the Shared Notes?
No, it is possible only to export the contents of the Shared Notes.
You can copy the content of a document on your computer and paste it into the Shared Notes, but it will not always preserve the original formatting.
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Viewing Recordings
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BBB sessions may be recorded for you to consult later. The recordings are viewed through a BBB interactive player that displays the slide presentation, webcams, and a scrollable “real-time” Public Chat window.
| Note: Any and all class recordings (BBB or otherwise) are the intellectual property of the instructor and should be used for class purposes only. You should never copy, reproduce, display, distribute, or otherwise circulate course materials outside of the course without the instructor’s written permission. You can refer here for more information on Carleton’s Copyright Policy. |
- How do I find BBB recordings?
Recordings for a BBB session are listed beneath the “Join Session” button on that BBB activity’s joining page. To access a recording:
- Login to your cuLearn course.
- On the course homepage, click on the link for the BBB session that was recorded.
- Scroll down on the joining page to the Recordings menu, below the “Join Session” button.
- Click either the “Video” or “Presentation” button to view the recording. The BBB recording will open in a new window.
| Note: Recordings can take several hours up to a full day to appear following the end of the recorded session. |
- What's the difference between Video and Presentation?
The “Video” and “Presentation” feeds are created using the same information, but are displayed slightly differently. The Presentation format is more dynamic.
Video is a static view of only the elements that were used in the recorded session. For example, if the webcam and Public Chat were not used in the session, only the slide presentation will be displayed in the video. Additionally, all elements are in a fixed position for viewing.
Presentation will display all elements that are used to produce a BBB video, whether they were used in the session or not. So, even if no webcams were used in the session itself, a space for it will still appear in the recording.
Additionally, clicking on the swap views button (“parallel arrows facing opposite directions” icon) at the bottom right-hand corner of the player will swap the webcam and slide presentation windows.
Lastly, the Presentation view automatically creates a bookmark whenever the slide presentation changes slides. Click on the “three horizontal lines” button at the top-left of the BBB player to open the list of timestamped slide thumbnails.
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| For assistance with your computer’s settings and device support (e.g., browser privacy, etc), please reach out to ITS Student Support. |
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