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.