Coming to BOLT: HTML5 Default for Virtual Classrooms

If you use the Virtual Classroom tool in BOLT, the flash client will no longer be available after August 18th. The HTML5 Virtual Classroom client will be used for all meetings.




Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are the recommended browsers to use with the Virtual Classrooms client. When users try to use the Virtual Classrooms client on browsers other than Chrome or Firefox, an alert message indicates that the experience is better on the recommended browsers.




In addition, other improvements will be available in the tool on August 18th.


Within the meeting management experience the left menu now uses tabs, windows are responsive for improved usability on mobile devices, instructors can create repeating meetings, and all meeting assets can be downloaded and played back on a local device.




Additional tool tips have been added to Virtual Classroom to increase usability and assist new users. In Virtual Classrooms, users see connection indicators that display the meeting health and recording status. When using the whiteboard, text boxes are created automatically without needing users to click and drag to create them. Desktop sharing can now be paused and participants continue to see what was shared at the time of the pause.




Course copy workflows have been enhanced, ensuring that upon copying courses that include virtual classrooms, only the classroom's dates require updating in the new course.

Changes Coming to BOLT on May 19, 2017

There will be two significant changes to BOLT on May 19, 2017. A new navigation scheme will be in place, and online rooms will be phased out.

New Navigation

To prepare for the Daylight Experience, there will be changes to the navigation bars in BOLT. New menus will be on the My Home page and course home page.




BOLT My Home Navigation Update May 19

BOLT Course Home Navigation Update May 19

Please note, this change will not affect your course materials or content! This is a cosmetic change only!

Online Rooms Phased Out

The Online Rooms tool is being phased out. If you want to save recordings from January 2015 through May 2017, you will need to fill out a form and return it to Julie Wolfe by May 5, 2017. Please see the Blackboard Collaborate module in the BOLT Help Course for more information.

What Synchronous Tools Are Available?

We have the new version of Collaborate, Ultra, available for instructors and students to use. You can add Ultra to your course content as an External Learning Tool. In the module you want to add it to, just click Existing Activities, select External Learning Tools, and select Ultra. This will add a link to Ultra. If you click through the link, you will be able to set up Ultra sessions.


We also have Virtual Classroom available in BOLT courses. The link to this tool will be moving from the Learning Tools menu to the Communication menu on May 19.


We have Zoom pro accounts for instructors available as well. If you want to try Zoom with BOLT, please email imdc@bloomu.edu.

Important Changes to Synchronous Tools

A delay in the PASSHE RFP for a new Web Conferencing Tool means we must remain using Blackboard Collaborate for one more year until June 30, 2018.  However, Online Rooms is being phased out on May 19, 2017.

Read on for more information.

Synchronous Tool Changes

Do you use synchronous tools in BOLT to conduct online sessions? If you do, several options are available and changes may be on the way.


Collaborate and Collaborate Ultra
If you use Online Rooms, you know Blackboard Collaborate. Now, you can have the Collaborate Ultra Experience in BOLT.


Ultra is a new and modern take on synchronous sessions that simplifies access for users- no more .collab files to open!


Online Rooms are also still available for use. Instructors and students access online rooms by going to Learning Tools and then Online Rooms in a course.


To use Ultra, go to a content module in your course, and click on Existing Activities.


Select External Learning Tools.


Select Ultra.


Click through the link to access Ultra and create sessions, access recordings, etc.


Note: You only need to add ONE link to Ultra- you will create the separate sessions in that link!


Students will access rooms and sessions in Ultra from this one link.


Virtual Classroom
Virtual Classroom is another tool available in BOLT for online class meetings. You can record meetings and invite external guests to join. You can access Virtual Classroom by going to your course, clicking on Learning Tools, and selecting Virtual Classroom.


Students access Virtual Classroom meetings via the course calendar.


Zoom Trial
We are working on setting up a trial with Zoom. If you are interested in the trial, please watch for communications from us as more information comes available...

PASSHE will be holding an RFP for the synchronous tool.
What this means for you: The tool we use (Collaborate) may change in the future. If you have recorded sessions you would like to retain, please let us know as soon as possible.

Try the New Virtual Classroom

Use the new Virtual Classroom tool from YouSeeU to conduct online classes, hold office hours, facilitate discussions, or provide other instruction or feedback to your students.


Sessions in Virtual Classroom

• Can be up to 90 minutes long
• Can include up to 100 participants at a time
• Are available as recordings for up to four months

To start using the Virtual Classroom tool in your BOLT course, click on Learning Tools, then select Virtual Classroom.


Contact bolthelp@bloomu.edu if you have any questions about Virtual Classroom and YouSeeU.