Blackboard Vista: Using the Chat & Whiteboard Tool

PDF version of this document: UsingChatWhiteboardTool.pdf [559 KB].

The Chat and Whiteboard tool in Blackboard Vista enables faculty and students to communicate synchronously in comparison to the Discussions asynchronous method. You can use it for text messaging, drawings that you might create on a chalkboard or traditional whiteboard, and sharing images and/or links during collaboration. Some faculty use the Chat tool to hold virtual office hours.

There are six (6) rooms by default in a course:

Common Room
Rooms 1-4
Whiteboard

NOTE: This tool is not accessible to those who use screen readers. It would have limited functionality for those with motor impairments and cannot use a mouse or other pointing device.

Step 1: Go to Chat Tool

You do not need to add any ‘instances’ to a course to use the Chat Whiteboard.

Click Chat from the Course Tools menu (Build or Teach).

NOTE: The (H) in this example means that it will NOT be displayed to students in their Course Tools menu and you will need to add an instance where appropriate.

Step 2: Click Create

Click Create Chat or Whiteboard Room.

NOTE: It does not matter in this step whether or not you want just a chat or just a whiteboard room; you will be making that decision in the next step.

Step 3: Create Room

In the “Title” text box, type a title for the room.
(Optional) In the “Description” area you can include more information.
Select “Item Visibility” option. Show Item is the default.
In the “Maximum users” text box, type the maximum number of participants a room can have at one time.

NOTE: The maximum number allowed is 1,000. (Full illustration cannot be seen here.)
Select the “Type” of room:
- Chat and Whiteboard
- Chat only
- Whiteboard only

Combined Chat and Whiteboard is the default.

(Optional) Click More Options.
(Optional) Select “User Permissions”:
Allow users to hide or show Chat or Whiteboard in a combined room
Allow private Chat messages
Allow alias
(Optional) Decide on “Enable logging”. Maintain Chat room log is on by default.
Click Save.

Add a Chat Instance

You can guide your students to the appropriate chat and whiteboard room at the right time by hiding the Chat tool in the Course Menu and adding a link to the room. These individual links can be added to your Course Content Home, a Learning Module, or a Folder.

Step 1: Add Content Link

If necessary, go to the area of your course where you would like to add the room instance. Our example shows Communication Tools LM.

Click Add Content Link. A drop-down menu is displayed.

Step 2: Chat

Select Chat. The drop-down menu will expand to show Chat tool related rooms.

Step 3: Select a Room

Select the room you created in Step 3 from the “Select from inventory:” area. Our example shows Communication Tool.
Click Add Selected.

NOTE: If you wanted to create a new room you could do so here by clicking the Create Chat Whiteboard Room button.

Using Chat Whiteboard Room

This handout will not look at the chat/whiteboard room in depth but we will open a room so you can see important options within a combined chat whiteboard room.

Step 1: ActionLinks - Go to

Click the ActionLinks icon.
From the ActionLinks drop-down menu, select Go to Chat Room. The chat whiteboard room will open in a new window.

Step 2: Java Applet Window

In a combined chat whiteboard room, the whiteboard will be on top and the chat on the bottom.

In a combined chat whiteboard room, the whiteboard will be on top and the chat on the bottom.
To hide either the chat or whiteboard, click Hide Whiteboard or Hide Chat. Since these buttons are toggles they will change to ‘Show’ when part of the room is hidden.
When you are finished with a chat whiteboard room you can click either of the Close Window buttons.

Chat Logs

The instructors can view chat logs at any time enabling them to confirm what was said during a session. By default this option is disabled for students and the instructor must enable chat logs for students. First we will show you how to view a chat log then we will show you how to enable those logs for students.

While it will not be covered in this handout, it is possible, with a few extra steps, to view the logs as an instructor and only release specific parts of the chat log. If you would like assistance with this procedure please speak with a CTL Instructional Technology Consultant.

NOTE: Because chat rooms are not accessible for some with disabilities, a minimum accommodation of allowing logs would be necessary if you have a student who is unable to attend a live chat.

Step 1: ActionLinks - View

If necessary, in the Course Tools menu click Chat. All your chat rooms are displayed.

Click the ActionLinks icon for the room you would like to view the log.
From the ActionLinks drop-down menu select View Log. The log will open in the same screen area (not illustrated).

Step 2: Designer/Instructor Tools

From either the Designer Tools (Build tab) or Instructor Tools (Teach tab) click Manage Course.

NOTE: Our illustration shows the Course Content Home is displayed. However, as long as you can see the Designer or Instructor Tools you can be anywhere in the course you like.

Step 3: Manage Course

From the Manage Course screen click Settings.

Step 4: Settings Management

From the list of Tools click the Chat link.

Step 5: Chat Tools

In the “Allow Students to view chat logs” area, select true.
Click Save Values.