Skype

Skype widgets may be easily embedded into your group's wiki page, and provide a highly visible point of contact to allow your group members to easily contact each other whilst working on or utilising the wiki. You can create your own Skype buttons for group videoconferences, during which users are able to share their desktops to enable others to view what you are working on, or to play your presentation.

Registering with Skype is quick and free, and 'calls' are made through the internet, requiring no credit. Skype may also be used to make calls to landline and mobile numbers, but doing so may require purchase of credits. When configuring your Skype account it is possible to add your mobile number to your profile, allowing you to receive Skype calls whilst on the move; alternatively this may be omitted to preserve privacy and limit contact. Your team mates may already have several Skype accounts for various purposes, such as for home life, for work, or for individual courses, and if you create an account for this group work you can easily delete it when done and keep your private Skype handle private.

Various buttons are available on the Skype website, and range from simple Call Me! buttons to more detailed widgets which indicate your availability. Examples of these are shown below.

Wikis

Find out more about using wikis for your project through the Wiki Mini-Wiki!

BB Collaborate Videoconferences

Blackboard Collaborate (aka Elluminate Live!) is a live web conferencing and virtual classroom platform that allows staff and students to communicate using a real-time learning space. The main features include two-way audio, multipoint video, interactive whiteboard, application sharing, web tour, polling and session recording. Activities can include introductory exercises, brainstorming, problem sharing and solving, presentation of research and projects, role plays, debates, mentoring and support. Collaborate is the system through which you will view and participate in lectures and tutorials during this and many other of your university courses.

The first time you use BB Collaborate you will need to spend a moment checking your computer setup, but most machines work correctly first-time with this platform. You access the sessions through individual links, which you'll find embedded within the course pages as you progress through this unit. For further help, visit the Blackboard Information & Help site.