Online Event Platforms and Collaboration Tools
Event Platforms
Blackboard Collaborate is the online collaborative learning platform used by the University to facilitate the learning needs of its students. It includes features such as audio, video, text chat, an interactive whiteboard, PowerPoint display, application sharing, breakout rooms, polling, and session recording.
This platform is supported by the University with Blackboard guidance and tutorials available through Minerva and training sessions are being offered by ODPL website.
Microsoft Teams is widely recognised as the professional online platform which combines video conferencing software with team collaboration tools. The communications platform allows MS Office users to conduct conference calls and share files via SharePoint, and join or initiate a group chat.
Microsoft Teams features are free to use by students and staff with Microsoft are delivering online expert-led training for Microsoft Teams which are free to attend.
Teams Meetings are designed for real-time collaboration and conversation between groups of peers. Currently, a Teams Meeting is limited to a total of 250 people on the call. Attendees can share webcam videos, create a whiteboard, or share out their desktop. Invitations can be sent to individuals or teams of people.
With so many attendee participation tools available, Teams Meetings are best used for smaller, collaborative efforts, rather than a structured one-to-many presentation.
Go Live for larger presentations...
If you wish to hold larger groups within Microsoft Teams now has an additional function to setup meetings in Live Events mode which is designed for presentation-style meetings, where most attendees are “view only”. With this version of Teams, up to 10,000 attendees can join the event, but can only participate via text-based Q&A. the video feed does have a 20-second delay and requires at least one other person operating as the producer in the background controlling and editing the video stream from start to finish.
The Live Event mode allows multiple, virtual presenters who can share audio, webcams, and their screens to present content. There are some limitations to presenter controls, and all initiations must be sent prior to the meeting start time.
Detailed overview of Blackboard Ultra and MS Teams platformsCollaboration Tools![]()
There is a range of online tools which can be used to help team collaboratively work online towards shared goals.
Ideal for Small Projects, Task Management, Group Collaboration
Trello and Padlet are two very basic platforms for small or non-complex tasks or projects, allowing users to create online pin boards that can be used to collaborate using a broad range of functionality including discussion boards, sharing ideas/resources, group exercises, and monitoring the progression of tasks to their completion.
Both are free to use but Trello requires an upgrade to use all functionality whereas Padlet is covered by the University of Leeds license allowing students and staff to use the platform for free by accessing the platform through its own UoL Padlet domain.
Ideal for Complex Projects, Task Management, Visual diagrams, Whiteboard functions, Group Collaboration
Miro and Ludicharts are both online collaborative whiteboard platforms that enable distributed teams to work effectively together allowing users to use diagramming, process maps collaborative Whiteboard, Mind Mapping, and other visual collaboration templates.
Both are free to use on a basic package however upgrades are required for full functionality, main differences can be used as an add-on to Microsoft software like Teams however Lucidcharts is easier to use.
Ideal for Networking and replicating social space
Kumospace and Wonder allow users to create a virtual space that functions as a physical location to replicate a meeting in person, you can use an avatar to communicate directly with other attendees as well as address the whole room.
Detailed overview of above Collaboration Tools