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Web Conferencing - Software Comparison

Below is a chart comparing the various features of Class Collaborate Ultra, Microsoft Teams Meetings, and Zoom.

Web Conferencing Comparison
Activity/Resources
Class Collaborate Ultra
Microsoft Team Meetings
Zoom

Description of Product

Web conferencing 

Communication & web conferencing

Web conferencing 

Specifications/

Limitations

Audience limit of 250 per session. Over 250 requires large event clearance

250 simultaneous users in a meeting

500 simultaneous users in a meeting. Livestream to FB/YouTube

Browser Recommended

Chrome/Firefox

Chrome/Firefox

Zoom Desktop Client/ App

Screen Views

up to 25

49/page with multiple pages

Phone Access 

Audio only without the app installed on the phone and both audio/video while using the app

Fully supported on mobile devices

Audio only without the app installed on the phone and both audio/video while using the app

Record Lectures 

Lectures can be recorded and saved in Blackboard

Lectures can be recorded and saved to the Microsoft Stream account

Lectures can be recorded and saved in the cloud or to the local device in .MP4 format

Student Recordings 

Students can record if they are granted moderator privileges from the instructor

Students can upload recordings to their Microsoft Stream account All NDSU students have a licensed account and can record to their own device  

Guest speakers

Guest speakers can be invited to the platform

Guest speakers can be invited to the platform

Guest speakers can be invited to the platform

Polls/Surveys 

Supports multiple choice and Yes/No Polls/surveys

Uses MS Forms

Supports customizable polls/surveys

Closed Captioning
Not available at this time   Yes (automated) Yes (automated)

Group Work 

 

Utilizes Breakout Groups

No, but Channels available in Teams site

Utilizes Breakout Groups

Virtual Office Hours with instructor

Yes, supports one-on-one web conferencing

Yes, supports one-on-one web conferencing

Yes, supports
one-on-one web conferencing

Attendance

Can be done using the attendance view report option for a meeting (integrated within the Blackboard grade center) Can be done using download attendance report option for a meeting Can be done using attendance report option for a meeting

Remote access to student’s computer

Students can share their screens, whiteboards, camera, files and applications

Yes, by changing the settings in meeting policies

Yes, by request remote control from the host or participant who is sharing their screen

Desktop/Software Application sharing 

Desktop/Software Application can be shared Desktop/Software Application can be shared Desktop/Software Application can be shared

Whiteboard

Yes

Yes

Yes

Chat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Mobile App 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Accessing Recordings

Recordings are accessible within the Blackboard Course Recordings are accessible via a link to Microsoft Stream sent to the cloud/host Cloud recordings are accessible within the Blackboard course or through the NDSU Zoom Web Portal

Waiting Room

No, but Blackboard has breakout rooms which can be used as waiting rooms

Yes. In the meeting options you can specify which users can bypass the lobby. Would need to set up for each class

Yes. Waiting room can be enabled in the settings options

Annotation

Whiteboard

 

Whiteboard

Content and whiteboard

Scheduling a Call

In Blackboard

In Outlook

In Blackboard, Outlook or Zoom

Connecting to a Call

In Blackboard Collab Ultra Section/or a link Using mailed/posted link

In Blackboard Zoom Section or a link

Full screen content

Yes

Yes

Yes

 How do students access recording  Click sessions menu in the upper left corner and select recordings  Click the link to Microsoft streams  Students will access the recording via a link posted by an instructor in Blackboard, or automatically available if Zoom sessions are imported into Blackboard
 Saving chat messages Right Click the Chat window. Select a location to save the chat, it will be saved as an HTML file   To save a chat message in Microsoft Teams, select Save message just to the right of the text Chat messages can be saved using the save chat option. Click the 3 dots icon to the right of the chat box area, select Save Chat 
 Edit recordings  Only captions and recording names can be edited in Blackboard In Teams, navigate to the meeting recording in the chat history and click More options, open in Microsoft Stream. From the Microsoft Stream portal click Edit. Under Options, click Captions and then Download file. Download the VTT caption file and make whatever changes necessary, then save it to your computer. In your browser uncheck Autogenerate a caption file and click Upload a caption file, click Select file, find your VTT caption file, then click OK and finally Apply.  Log in to verify that you are the video owner, then navigate to the Recordings tab. Click the title of the video. Click the play button to open the video editor 

See Also:




Keywords:HyFlex, NDSU HyFlex, remote, remote teaching, online teaching, hybrid, softwares, compare, calling, zoom, teams, meetings, ultra, collaborate, blackboard, bb, comparing, differences, web, communication, Microsoft, video, conference, vs, verses, web, conferencing   Doc ID:104067
Owner:Sharley K.Group:IT Knowledge Base
Created:2020-07-16 11:42 CDTUpdated:2023-03-08 14:14 CDT
Sites:IT Knowledge Base
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