BigBlueButton Instructor Guide

Welcome to this tutorial guide on using BigBlueButton as an instructor. This walkthrough explains how to manage your virtual classroom, interact with students, share content, use collaboration tools, and improve student engagement.

1. Understanding the BigBlueButton Interface

When you first open BigBlueButton, you will see the main presentation area. This is the central workspace where you interact with your teaching content and where students view the material you share.

• Presentation Area: Main space for slides, annotations, and shared content.
• Public Chat: Area where students and instructors communicate together.
• User List: Displays all participants currently in the session.

2. Joining Audio and Managing Microphones

To begin communicating with students, click the Join Audio button. You can choose between:

• Microphone: Allows you to speak and participate.
• Listen Only: Allows you to hear the session without speaking.

When joining with a microphone, complete the echo test to confirm your audio is working. Anyone generating audio will have their name highlighted, making it easy to identify who is speaking.

Muting Participants

Instructors can quickly mute participants by clicking their name in the user list. To mute yourself, click the microphone icon. Click again to unmute.

3. Sharing Webcams

To share your webcam:

1. Click Share Webcam.
2. Select video quality settings.
3. Choose a background image if desired.
4. Click Start Sharing.

Students will immediately see your webcam feed. You can also change the webcam layout to better fit your teaching style.

Changing Layouts

BigBlueButton provides different layout options:

• Grid Layout: Displays webcams in a grid format.
• Custom Layout: Allows you to arrange content manually.

You can apply a layout to everyone by selecting the layout option and choosing Update Everyone.

4. Using the Whiteboard Tools

BigBlueButton includes an interactive whiteboard that allows instructors to annotate presentations and engage students visually.

Whiteboard Tools

• Pen Tool: Draw directly on slides.
• Eraser Tool: Remove annotations.
• Pointer Tool: Highlight important areas.
• Move Tool: Select and reposition objects.

Keyboard Shortcuts

• 1: Pointer tool
• 2: Drawing tool
• 3: Eraser tool

5. Sharing Your Screen

Screen sharing allows students to see your computer display.

1. Click Share Screen.
2. Select a browser tab, application window, or entire screen.
3. Click Share.

Students will see exactly what you view on your screen. Click Stop Sharing when finished.

6. Uploading Presentations and Slides

To upload teaching material:

1. Open the Actions menu.
2. Select Upload Presentation.
3. Choose your file.
4. Allow BigBlueButton to convert the presentation.

Uploaded presentations are optimized for bandwidth efficiency. Students only download the current slide instead of receiving a continuous video stream.

Navigating Slides

• Use the slide index to move between pages.
• Use the hand tool to move around large slides.
• Hold the space bar to activate the drag tool.

7. Multi-User Whiteboard Collaboration

The multi-user whiteboard allows students to interact directly with the presentation.

Students can:

• Draw on slides.
• Move pointers.
• Add sticky notes.
• Collaborate visually.

This is useful for activities such as visual assessments, brainstorming, and group exercises.

8. Lock Settings and Classroom Control

The lock settings provide classroom management controls.

• Disable student microphones.
• Prevent webcam sharing.
• Disable private chat.
• Control annotation permissions.
• Hide participant activity.

These options help instructors manage large classes effectively.

9. Creating Polls and Student Assessments

Polling allows instructors to collect student responses in real time.

1. Click the plus icon.
2. Select Start Poll.
3. Create your question.
4. Select response options.
5. Launch the poll.

Students can respond immediately and results appear live.

Smart Slides Polling

Smart Slides can automatically detect questions inside uploaded presentations. It can identify:

• True/False questions.
• Multiple choice questions.
• Multiple response questions.
• Open-ended questions.

10. Learning Analytics Dashboard

The analytics dashboard provides information about student participation.

You can view:

• Student activity levels.
• Poll responses.
• Participation timelines.
• Engagement data.

This helps instructors identify students who may need additional support.

11. Recording Sessions

To record your class:

1. Click Start Recording.
2. Continue teaching normally.
3. Click Stop Recording when finished.

Recordings can later be accessed through your learning platform.

12. Chat and Private Communication

The public chat allows classroom-wide communication.

To start a private conversation:

1. Select a student's name.
2. Choose Start Private Chat.

Private chat can also be restricted using lock settings.

13. Shared Notes

Shared notes allow students and instructors to collaborate through written content. Students can contribute ideas, summaries, and feedback during class.

14. Student Reactions and Hand Raising

Students can raise their hand to request attention. Instructors receive notifications and can lower individual hands or lower all hands at once.

Reaction buttons allow students to provide quick feedback using visual responses.

15. Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms allow students to collaborate in smaller groups.

1. Open the user list settings.
2. Select Create Breakout Rooms.
3. Choose the number of rooms.
4. Assign students.
5. Set the duration.

Students can collaborate using:

• Shared notes.
• Whiteboards.
• Audio discussions.

When breakout rooms end, created content can return to the main classroom.

16. Sharing External Videos

Instructors can share external videos with students.

1. Select the external video option.
2. Add the video link.
3. Control playback for the class.

17. Timers and Classroom Tools

BigBlueButton includes tools for classroom management:

• Timer.
• Stopwatch.
• Random student selection.

These tools help keep activities organized and on schedule.

18. Ending the Meeting

At the end of the session, instructors can:

• Leave Meeting: Exit while allowing others to continue.
• End Meeting: Close the session for everyone.

Conclusion

BigBlueButton provides a complete virtual classroom environment with tools for teaching, collaboration, assessment, and student engagement. By using audio controls, webcams, presentations, whiteboards, polls, analytics, chat, and breakout rooms, instructors can create interactive online learning experiences.