Canvas Instructor Guide BigBlueButton
Canvas Instructor Guide BigBlueButton
Conferences
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View Conferences
Conferences makes it easy to conduct synchronous (real-time) lectures for all of the students in your course. Conferences
allows you to broadcast real-time audio, video, demo applications on your desktop, share presentation slides, or demo any
online resources. Currently, Canvas integrates with BigBlueButton.
Note: BigBlueButton can accommodate approximately 50 users in a conference at one time. A conference will remain active
on Big Blue Button as long as one person is part of the conference room. When the last person leaves, the conference will
conclude and all files and chats will be removed.
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Connect with your students for online office hours or special study sessions designed to help them prepare for a test.
Connect with your colleagues for professional development webinars.
Practice presenting online. Students can set up practice presentations in their student Groups.
Invite special guests to your classroom by adding them as a student or observer to your course.
Broadcast a live event or lecture to the students that can't be onsite.
Record your conferences so students can view them at a later date. Note: Recordings are automatically deleted 14
days after the conference ends.
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Conferences are grouped in two parts: New Conferences [1] and Concluded Conferences [2]. Both always display the name [3]
and the description [4] of the conference.
Note: Students can only view conferences to which they have been invited.
New Conferences
New Conferences are either ready to start [1], or in progress [2] where invited participants can join.
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Note: Students cannot join a conference until you have started it.
Concluded Conferences
Once a conference has ended, it will be displayed in Concluded conferences. Concluded conferences show the date of the
conference [1].
For recorded conferences, Canvas displays the length of the conference [2]. The length of the conference is indicated in
hours:minutes (e.g. 0:18 is 18 minutes).
The View button will not appear until the conference has been rendered for playback. Depending on the length of your
conference, this process may take several hours [3].
Note: Recordings are automatically deleted 14 days after the conference ends.
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Open Conferences
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To create a new conference, type a name for the conference in the name field [1].
If you want to set a time limit on how long invited members are able to join the conference, enter the number of minutes in the
duration field [2]. The time limit will begin when the presenter starts the conference. Once the duration has expired, new
participants will be unable to join and the conference will continue until the last person leaves the conference room or the
conference organizer concludes the conference.
If you want to enable recording options for this conference, select the Enable recording for this conference checkbox [3].
If you don't want to set a time limit for the conference, you can create a long-running conference by selecting the No time
limit (for long-running conferences) checkbox [4].
To create a description of your conference, type a description in the description field [5].
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By default, all members in the course will be invited to the conference. If you want to select specific members of your course,
deselect the Invite All Course Members checkbox.
Note: Conferences can accommodate up to 50 people. If your course contains more than 50 people, you will have to invite
course members individually.
Select Individual Members
Select the checkbox(es) for the individual member(s) you would like to invite.
Update Conference
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View Conference
Open Conferences
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While completing the details for the conference, click the No time limit (for long-running conferences) checkbox. (This option
will remove the time limit in the Duration field.)
Update Conference
View Conference
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Open Conferences
Delete Conference
Click the Settings icon [1] and click the Delete link [2].
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Confirm Deletion
Open Conferences
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Edit Conference
Click the conference you want to edit. Click the Settings icon [1] and click the Edit link [2].
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Update Conference
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View Conference
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For alternative storage and download options, contact BigBlueButton to set up a hosting account.
Open Conferences
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Enable Recording
To turn on the options for recording within the conference, select the Enable recording for this conference checkbox.
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Update Conference
Start Conference
Next to the conference you want to record, click the Start button.
View Record Notification
After joining the conference and setting up your microphone, you'll see a reminder notifying you that you can record the
meeting. Click the OK button.
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Start/Stop Recording
To start recording, click the recording button [1] in the title bar to begin/end recording. A prompt will appear confirming that the
recording will start. Click Yes to begin recording. The recording button will display a red dot and green checkmark to indicate
the conference is being recorded. Also, a recording notification [2] will appear in the title bar. To stop recording, click the
recording button again. The recording button [3] will display a black dot and no checkmark to indicate the conference is no
longer being recorded.
When you start or stop a recording, you'll always be prompted to confirm the action.
When your conference has concluded, click the name of the recorded conference [1]. When the conference expands, click the
View button [2] to replay your conference.
Note: The View button will not appear until the conference has been rendered for playback. Depending on the length of your
conference, this process may take several hours.
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Open Conferences
Start Conference
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Next to the conference you want to start, click the Start button.
Before joining a conference, you will be asked how you want to join the conference audio: via microphone or listen only.
Listen Only allows users to quickly join the conference as a listener only (no microphone check). You will be able to change
your audio preference once you've joined the conference.
Learn more about how to set up your audio.
Allow Chrome Microphone Permissions
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If you are using Chrome, you will have to accept a Chrome-specific permission for access to your microphone. This prompt is
just below the address bar. Click the Allow button.
Allow Firefox Microphone Permissions
If you are using Firefox, you will have to accept a Firefox-specific permission to access your microphone. Choose your
microphone from the Microphone to share drop-drown menu [1] and click the Share Selected Device button [2].
Note: If you don't see the list of microphones, click the microphone icon [3] to the left of the address bar.
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Test Audio
For the best audio experience, use a headset with a microphone. To ensure your audio is working correctly, complete the
private audio echo test. Speak a few words and if you hear audio, click the Yes button [1]. To choose a different microphone
and repeat the audio test, click the No button [2]. If you need help with your hardware, click the Question Mark icon [3].
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To use Conferences, you must give Adobe Flash Player access to your camera and microphone settings. Click the Allow
button.
Note: Users of Internet Explorer and Safari will continue to participate with existing Flash-based audio.
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View Conference
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Open Conferences
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Start Conference
Before joining a conference, you will be asked how you want to join the conference audio: via microphone or listen only.
Listen Only allows users to quickly join the conference as a listener only (no microphone check). You will be able to change
your audio preference once you've joined the conference.
Learn more about how to set up your audio.
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If you are using Chrome, you will have to accept a Chrome-specific permission for access to your microphone. This prompt is
just below the address bar. Click the Allow button.
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If you are using Firefox, you will have to accept a Firefox-specific permission to access your microphone. Choose your
microphone from the Microphone to share drop-drown menu [1] and click the Share Selected Device button [2].
Note: If you don't see the list of microphones, click the microphone icon [3] to the left of the address bar.
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Audio Test
It is recommended that you use a headset with a microphone for best audio experience. To ensure your audio is working
correctly, complete the private audio echo test. Speak a few words and if you hear audio, click the Yes button [1]. To choose a
different microphone and repeat the audio test, click the No button [2]. If you need help with your hardware, click the
Question Mark icon [3].
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To use Conferences, you must give Adobe Flash Player access to your camera and microphone settings. Click the Allow
button.
Note: Users of Internet Explorer and Safari will continue to participate with existing Flash-based audio.
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The conference interface contains a variety of tools to help you moderate your presentation. Each area of the interface is
created within its own window and can be resized.
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Record Conference
Moderators have improved functionality and control for recording conferences. Instead of starting the recording immediately
after the first user has joined, conferences includes a start/stop button so moderators can control the length of the recording.
After the conference session is over, the recorded segments will be published as one recording.
After joining the conference and setting up your microphone, moderators receive a reminder notifying them that they can
record the meeting, but they must click the recording button to start the recording.
Note: You must select the record option when creating your conference in order to see the recording button.
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View Participants
The Users panel [1] displays the users in the conference. To locate the presenter/moderator, look for the presentation icon
next to their name. When you are the presenter/moderator, you can switch the Presenter by highlighting the name of a user in
the User list and clicking the Change Presenter button [2].
You can mute or unmute yourself, and if you are the moderator/presenter, you can mute everyone [3]. You can also kick a
listener out of the conference by hovering over the listener's name and selecting the x that appears to the right [4]. The lock
icon [5] indicates the moderator has locked viewers from accessing certain features.
User Settings
At the bottom of the Users panel, click the user settings icon [1] to Clear all status icons, Mute All Users, Mute All Users Except
Presenter, or Lock Viewers.
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Lock Viewers
Moderators have the ability to lock (restrict) viewers from having the following features:
Webcam
Microphone
Public Chat
Private Chat
Layout
This functionality helps moderators control the conference environment, such as locking private chat to prevent students from
collaborating during a test.
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In the left corner of the title bar, you can share your desktop [1], join/leave audio [2], share your video (webcam) [3], record
conference [4], and mute or unmute yourself [5].
Note: Desktop sharing is not currently supported on Chrome running under Mac OS X. It is recommended you use Firefox to
share your desktop.
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At the bottom of the viewing window, you have several options for your presentation.
To add files to your presentation, click the Upload Presentation icon [1].
To gather feedback during your presentation, click the Start a Poll icon [2].
To advance or back up your presentation, click the arrow keys [3]. The number between the keys indicates the
number of slides in your presentation.
To increase the viewing size of your presentation, use your mouse to drag the triangle along the percentage scale
[4].
To make your presentation fit to the width of the viewing window (height will remain proportionate), click the fit to
width icon [5].
To make your presentation fit the entire page within the viewing window, click the fit to page icon [6].
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To show the whiteboard tools, hover your mouse over the various annotation icons [7].
Chat Window
The Chat window contains the welcome message [1] for the conference and contains all the chat messages throughout the
conference.
You can chat with all of the participants in the conference by typing text in the Chat window [2]. To start a private chat with
another participant, click the Options tab [3].
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Languages
To change the language of the interface, click the language drop-down menu at the bottom of the screen.
Choose Layout
To choose from a number of preset layouts, click the Default Layout drop-down menu to select the layout you want to use.
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Each window within the interface is independent of the others. You can resize the windows to personalize your viewing
experience. To change the size of a window, hover over the edge of a window until the cursor becomes a double arrow, then
click and drag to your desired size.
Log Out
To leave the conference, click the log out button or close your browser tab or window.
Note: Unless you set up a long-running conference, the conference will end automatically once the last user has logged out of
the conference. It may take a few minutes for the Conferences page to reflect that the conference has concluded.
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Open Conferences
Join Conference
Next to the conference you want to join, click the Join button.
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Before joining a conference, you will be asked how you want to join the conference audio: via microphone or listen only.
Listen Only allows users to quickly join the conference as a listener only (no microphone check). You will be able to change
your audio preference once you've joined the conference.
Learn more about how to set up your audio.
Allow Chrome Microphone Permissions
If you are using Chrome, you will have to accept a Chrome-specific permission for access to your microphone. This prompt is
just below the address bar. Click the Allow button.
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If you are using Firefox, you will have to accept a Firefox-specific permission to access your microphone. Choose your
microphone from the Microphone to share drop-drown menu [1] and click the Share Selected Device button [2].
Note: If you don't see the list of microphones, click the microphone icon [3] to the left of the address bar.
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Test Audio
For the best audio experience, use a headset with a microphone. To ensure your audio is working correctly, complete the
private audio echo test. Speak a few words and if you hear audio, click the Yes button [1]. To choose a different microphone
and repeat the audio test, click the No button [2]. If you need help with your hardware, click the Question Mark icon [3].
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To use Conferences, you must give Adobe Flash Player access to your camera and microphone settings. Click the Allow
button.
Note: Users of Internet Explorer and Safari will continue to participate with existing Flash-based audio.
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View Conference
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Conferences created with a time limit will remain active for the duration of the conference.
Once the conference duration has expired, the conference will automatically conclude once the last member of the
conference has left the room. You can also manually conclude (end) the conference at any point during the allotted time.
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When a conference concludes, all files and chats are removed from the conference room.
Conferences created without a time limit will remain active as long as you (or another conference organizer) keeps the
conference running.
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To end a conference, return to the Conferences page. Next to the name of the conference, click the End button.
When a conference concludes, all files and chats are removed from the conference room.
Once the conference has concluded, the conference will appear in the Concluded Conferences section on the Conferences
page. Updating the status of the conference may take a few minutes.
Note: If the conference has not changed status after a significant amount of time, the time limit has passed, and there are no
members left in the conference room, edit the conference and update the settings to manually refresh the Conferences page.
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Open Conferences
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Start Conference
Before joining a conference, you will be asked how you want to join the conference audio: via microphone or listen only.
Listen Only allows users to quickly join the conference as a listener only (no microphone check). You will be able to change
your audio preference once you've joined the conference.
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If you are using Firefox, you will have to accept a Firefox-specific permission to access your microphone. Choose your
microphone from the Microphone to share drop-drown menu [1] and click the Share Selected Device button [2].
Note: If you don't see the list of microphones, click the microphone icon [3] to the left of the address bar.
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Audio Test
It is recommended that you use a headset with a microphone for best audio experience. To ensure your audio is working
correctly, complete the private audio echo test. Speak a few words and if you hear audio, click the Yes button [1]. To choose a
different microphone and repeat the audio test, click the No button [2]. If you need help with your hardware, click the
Question Mark icon [3].
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To use Conferences, you must give Adobe Flash Player access to your camera and microphone settings. Click the Allow
button.
Note: Users of Internet Explorer and Safari will continue to participate with existing Flash-based audio.
In the upper left-hand corner of the title bar, click the Share Desktop button.
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To share your entire desktop with participants, click the Full Screen button [1]. To share a part of your screen, click the Region
button [2].
Allow Java Applet
The first time you run desktop sharing, you will need to allow Firefox to run the Java Applet. This prompt is just below the
address bar. Click the Allow button.
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Plugin Preferences
To set your plugin preference for the Java Applet, click the Java Applet drop-down menu [1]. To allow Firefox to automatically
run the plugin in the future, choose Allow and Remember. To change your preferences, click the plugin icon [2] next to the
address bar.
Run Applet Permission
You will need to allow the BigBlueButton Deskshare Applet permission to run on your computer. Click the Run button.
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Select Region
If you choose to select a region, use the double-sided arrows [1] to drag and re-size the sharing window. You can also use your
mouse to click and drag the border of the red and white box [2] to move the selection area. When you have selected the
region you want to use, click the Start Sharing button [3].
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Share Desktop
You will receive a notification reminding you that you are now sharing your desktop. Click the OK button.
The blue box indicates the part of your screen that is being shared with participants.
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Presenter's Preview
In the presenter's preview panel in the lower left-hand corner, you can see a preview of what participants are seeing on your
screen.
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Click the Close button [1] or the Close (X) icon [2].
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Open Conferences
Start Conference
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Before joining a conference, you will be asked how you want to join the conference audio: via microphone or listen only.
Listen Only allows users to quickly join the conference as a listener only (no microphone check). You will be able to change
your audio preference once you've joined the conference.
Chrome Microphone Permissions
If you are using Chrome, you will have to accept a Chrome-specific permission for access to your microphone. This prompt is
just below the address bar. Click the Allow button.
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If you are using Firefox, you will have to accept a Firefox-specific permission to access your microphone. Choose your
microphone from the Microphone to share drop-drown menu [1] and click the Share Selected Device button [2].
Note: If you don't see the list of microphones, click the microphone icon [3] to the left of the address bar.
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Audio Test
It is recommended that you use a headset with a microphone for best audio experience. To ensure your audio is working
correctly, complete the private audio echo test. Speak a few words and if you hear audio, click the Yes button [1]. To choose a
different microphone and repeat the audio test, click the No button [2]. If you need help with your hardware, click the
Question Mark link [3].
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To use Conferences, you must give Adobe Flash Player access to your camera and microphone settings. Click the Allow
button.
Note: Users of Internet Explorer and Safari will continue to participate with existing Flash-based audio.
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Add File
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Select File
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Open File
Select the file you want to upload [1]. Click the Open button [2].
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Upload File
Verify you have selected the file you want to upload [1]. Click the Upload button [2].
Note: You can only upload one file at a time. Repeat these steps to upload additional files.
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View Presentation
In the Presentation panel [1], view your presentation. At the bottom of the viewing window, you have several options for your
presentation.
To show a different file or delete a file, click the upload presentation button [2].
To gather feedback during your presentation, click the Start a Poll icon [3].
To advance or back up your presentation, click the arrow keys [4]. The number between the keys indicates the
number of slides in your presentation.
To increase the viewing size of your presentation, use your mouse to drag the triangle along the percentage scale
[5].
To make your presentation fit to the width of the viewing window (height will remain proportionate), click the fit to
width icon [6].
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To make your presentation fit the entire page within the viewing window, click the fit to page icon [7].
To show the whiteboard tools, hover your mouse over the various annotation icons [8].
Note: Only the presenter can make annotations on slides. As a moderator, you have the ability to change presenters.
Show Different File
To show a different file or presentation, click the Show button. This allows presenters to easily switch between files during a
conference.
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Delete File
Next to the file you want to delete, click the Delete button.
Note: You cannot delete the default.pdf file.
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Start Poll
After you have started a conference as a presenter, click the Start a Poll button.
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If you select the Custom Poll type, enter your preferred answer responses in each text field [1]. You can enter up to six custom
answers. Then click the Start Poll button [2].
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Once you have started the poll, the poll shows the Waiting for responses status until participants begin to submit poll
questions.
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You can view results in real time and see the number of responses for each answer. Once an initial response is received, you
can see the number of responses compared to the total number of Conference participants.
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Complete Poll
You can view results in real time and see the number of responses for each answer. When all participants have completed the
poll, the poll displays as Done.
Note: Polls are anonymous, and participants are not required to complete a poll.
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Publish Poll
You can publish the poll results to participants at any time by clicking the Publish button.
Note: Once results have been published, they cannot be hidden.
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View Results
Repeat Poll
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If necessary, you can poll the same information on the current slide again. If your slide has a pre-set poll type that appears in
the menu, click the poll type button [1]. If not, click the Start a Poll button again.
As part of your presentation, create a slide with a question. Then add up to six answer choices.
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Import Presentation
When you import the slide presentation into a Conference, the interface will automatically detect a poll type based on the slide
content and display it in the poll type button.
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If you need to change the poll type for the slide, or if the interface cannot detect a poll type, click the Start a Poll button [1] and
choose the correct poll type [2]. You may have to create a custom poll type.
Note: If you have to create a new poll type, the poll will begin as soon as you select the poll type.
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Open Conferences
Join Conference
Next to the conference you want to join, click the Join button.
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View Poll
When a poll begins, the answer choices appear under the current slide. Polls can be part of a presentation or can be created
as part of an informal discussion.
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Answer Poll
Click your answer to the poll. Once you respond, the answer choices will disappear.
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If the presenter publishes the poll results, you can view them as part of the current slide.
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