Topics Map > Communication & Collaboration > Conferencing
What conferencing tools are available for virtual collaboration with video?
Web conferencing allows you to interact with others over the Internet. You can share your video, your computer screen, initiate a poll, and chat with attendees.
Blackboard Collaborate is a web conferencing system that facilitates real-time online teaching and learning. Blackboard Collaborate is available to all UIC Blackboard users. Instructors and TAs can create individual (and repeat) web conferencing sessions on their own without requesting a session to be created or activated. All session links and recordings are located under Course Tools > Blackboard Collaborate. Google Meet provides web conferencing options - with phone call-in capability. This solution works well for students and small groups (please note this solution may not be available in certain countries): go.uic.edu/google-meet Webex is a video and audio conference web application that combines web-based meetings with integrated collaboration tools such as whiteboard, chat, and screen share. go.uic.edu/webex Zoom is an alternative solution for meeting online with instructors and students. Zoom at UIC has been integrated with the Blackboard Learn system for the ease of instructors and students. go.uic.edu/blackboard-zoom Microsoft Teams provides collaboration tools and allows for conferencing - though only using computer audio (your computer’s microphone and speakers, or a headset). There is no phone call-in capability unless using the Teams mobile app: go.uic.edu/microsoft-teams The web conferencing tools supported by UIC provide similar conferencing services but can contain different features. Some features may be available but are not enabled by University Administrators. Selecting the right tool depends on your course needs and teaching objectives, so it is important to understand each tool's features and capabilities. The table below lists each tool's features to help identify the right one for you.Features Blackboard Collaborate Google Meet Webex Zoom Microsoft Teams Attendee Capacity 500 250 (until 9/30) 1000 300 250 Audio Conferencing • • • • • Blackboard Integration • • • Breakout Room • • • • Call-Me feature • • Chat Capabilities • • • • • Chromebook Compatible • • • • • Desktop App • • • • • Dial-in Audio • • • • File Sharing • • • • • Gate-Crashing* Risk Low Medium Medium High Medium Group Collaboration • • • • • Host Controls which attendee can present, share files, whiteboard etc • • • • • Invite External Participants • • • • • iPad Compatible • • • • • Lock Meeting • • • Mobile App • • • • • Multiple Moderators • • • • • Mute Participants • • • • • Mute Participants on Entry • • • Outlook Integration • • • • Password for Meeting • • • Personal Meeting Room • • • • Polling (collect responses) • • • • Private Chat • • • • • Raise Hand • • • • Record Session • • • • Remove Attendees • • • • Screen Sharing • • • • • Smartphone App • • • • • Students can create session • • • Unique Meeting ID's • • • Use Phone for Audio • • • • Video Conferencing • • • • • Virtual Background • • • VOIP (Internet Phone) • • • • Waiting Room Personal room only • Whiteboard • • • • *Gate-crashing refers to uninvited guests "crashing" meetings.