Web Conferencing

Austin Community College (ACC) supports the following web conferencing tools:

Blackboard Collaborate is a learning solution that provides web conferencing and mobile collaboration that seamlessly integrates with Blackboard. View Knowledgebase articles.

Google Meet is a web conferencing tool included in the Google Suite of tools available to ACC faculty, staff, and students. View Knowledgebase articles.

Webex is available for use on any device — PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone – to set up audio or videoconferences in real-time with anyone within ACC or around the world. View Knowledgebase articles.

Zoom is a cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars. This is the latest addition to the web conferencing tools available at ACC. View Knowledgebase articles.

Web Conferencing FAQ

Need help deciding which web conferencing tool to use? See the comparison chart below.

Web Conferencing Tools: Comparison Chart

Review the chart below to choose which technology might be right for your teaching and web conferencing needs.

Faculty: To use these web conferencing tools, faculty need a computer with the web conferencing tool installed, an internet connection, a microphone, and a webcam (can be built into a laptop). Faculty in need of equipment, please visit the Check Out Equipment page for options.

Students: To use these web conferencing tools, students can connect via computer/laptop, on mobile apps for the web conferencing tool, or call in via phone. If students are in need of equipment, please direct them to visit Student Technology Services.

The following web conferencing tools and features are currently available and supported by ACC. This chart is updated regularly. If you need assistance with these tools, please email facultysupport@austincc.edu.

Features	Blackboard Collaborate	Google Meet	Cisco Webex	Zoom	Class for Zoom
Max. # Simultaneous Video	6	50	25	49	300
Max. # Simultaneous Audio	6	50	25		300
Max. # Participants	250	250	2,000	300	300
Chat Feature	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Can Record Session	✔		✔	✔	✔
File Sharing Capabilities	✔		✔	✔	✔
Screen Sharing Capabilities	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Polling	✔		✔	✔	✔
Whiteboard	✔		✔	✔	✔
Breakout Rooms (Group Work)	✔		✔	✔	✔
Remembers Content for Reuse	✔		✔	✔	✔
Live Captioning	Manually Captioned	✔	✔	✔	✔
Chat Transcripts Available	✔		✔	✔	✔
Attendance Reports	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Students can Create a Session		✔
Voice Over Internet Protocol	✔	✔	✔	✔
Voice Over Phone	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mobile Device Capable	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Integrated with Blackboard	✔			✔	✔
Green Screen Compatibility			✔	✔	✔
Waiting Room feature			✔	✔	✔
Personal Meeting Room			✔	✔	✔
Video Pinning	✔	✔		✔	✔
Blur/Virtual Background		✔		✔	✔

Additional Information on Features

Important: Auto-Captioning like that used in Google Meet, Webex, and Zoom is not 100% accurate and may require monitoring.

Blackboard Collaborate

With Blackboard Collaborate up to 250 participants can participate with audio/video. With over 250, participants cannot use their audio, they can only listen/watch.

Students can be given moderator privileges by the instructor and run sessions created by the instructor.

Google Meet

Google Meet attachments can be shared through the calendar announcement or through Google Drive.

Webex

While Webex Meetings advertises up to 1000 simultaneous video and audio, only 25 are visible at a time.

Zoom

Host can enable a display up to 49 participants per screen in Gallery View.

Licensed users can host meetings with unlimited minutes for up to 300 participants.

To learn more about polling, see: Zoom Polls

Host needs to enable the breakout rooms. To learn more, see: Zoom Breakout Rooms

Zoom allows the host to type closed captions or assign a participant/third party device to add closed captions. Transcriptions can be created after a recording is done.

Host needs to enable this feature in Reports settings. To learn more, see: Zoom Reports

Host can allow/designate another person to start a meeting.

Class for Zoom

Mobile device capable only for iPad and Android Tablets – NOT PHONES.

Personal Meeting Room – The Office Hours feature; however, most faculty won’t be able to access this since they are not going to be logging in to Class.

Training and Support

Teaching consultations are available to help you implement this tool into your teaching.

Request Consultation

Educational Technologists are available to provide training on these tools.

Request Help

Workshops to learn about the tools available for teaching and learning are available.

View TLED Calendar

Contact

Not finding what you need? Please email TLEDcomms@austincc.edu. If any content on this page needs updating, please email tledwebsite@austincc.edu.