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.
Google Meet is a web conferencing tool included in the Google Suite of tools available to ACC faculty, staff, and students.
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.
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.
Need help deciding which web conferencing tool to use?
See the comparison chart below.
Review the chart below to choose which technology might be right for your teaching needs.
Note: 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 laptop). Faculty in need of equipment, please visit the Check Out Equipment page for options.
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 the “Technology Support” section on the ACC Remote Student Support page.
| Features | Blackboard
Collaborate |
Google Hangouts
Meet/Advanced |
Cisco
Webex |
Zoom |
| Max. # Simultaneous Video | 6 | 50 | 25**** | 49+ |
| Max. # Simultaneous Audio | 6 | 50 | 25**** | |
| Max. # Participants | 250* | 250 | 2,000 | 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 | ✔ | ✔ |
*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.
**To share content in Collaborate using Chrome, you may need to install the following Chrome Extension: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/desktop-sharing/bdegoelmafdlnjeffbakepncblkcmojj
***Google Meet attachments can be shared through the calendar announcement or through Google Drive.
****While Webex Meetings advertises up to 2000 simultaneous video and audio, only 25 are visible at a time.
#Auto-Captioning like that used in Google Meet, WebEx, and Zoom is not 100% accurate and may require monitoring.
##In Google Meet, Chat History must be turned on to generate a chat transcript.
^Students can be given moderator privileges by the instructor and run sessions created by the instructor.
+Host can enable a display up to 49 participants per screen in Gallery View.
++Licensed user can host meetings with unlimited minutes for up to 300 participants.
+++To learn more about polling, see: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/213756303-Polling-for-meetings
>Host needs to enable the breakout rooms. To learn more, see: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206476093-Enabling-breakout-rooms
>>Zoom allows 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: https://instruction.austincc.edu/faculty/article/zoom-attendance-and-accessing-reports/
&Host can allow/designate another person to start a meeting.
Training and Support
Teaching consultations are available to help you implement this tool into your teaching.
The Faculty Instructional Support Specialists (FISS) can also provide training.
Workshops to learn about the tools available for teaching and learning are available.
Contact
Not finding what you need? Please email TLEDcomms@austincc.edu. If any content on this page needs updating, please email tledwebsite@austincc.edu.