Canvas Conferences (Big Blue Button)

Overview

Big Blue Button (BBB) is a online web conference tool that is accessed in Canvas's course navigation or within a Canvas Group. This tool allows you to conduct real-time lectures and meetings, you can share audio, video, presentations, your screen, a multi-user whiteboard, chat, and create breakout rooms. 

Can I use Big Blue Button to record classes in Canvas?

Yes, the free tier of BigBlueButton does INCLUDE recording of your classes, videos are available for 7 days only for students to watch. The recordings can be found under Concluded Conferences after the meeting has finished and the recording has processed. 

Note: The time of availability of the recording depends on the length of the recording and the BBB server queue. Students invited to the conference will have access to the conference recording. Concluded conference recordings cannot be downloaded. 

SVSU ITS RECOMMENDS

Echo360 and Teams (includes Breakout Rooms for student collaboration) are recommended for recording your classes, especially if you plan to reuse content; both Echo360 and Teams integrate in Canvas.

Teams Class - where all conversations, meeting recordings, files, and notes can be accessed by everyone, all in one place.

• Teams Meetings Integration in Canvas (Recommended) (creates a Teams class)
• Create/Embed a Teams Meeting Link in Canvas (Alternative) (create a Teams meeting)

Echo360 - where you can record, upload content, manage, edit media/transcripts, share to a course or embed in Canvas, provides tools to monitor student participation and increase their learning. 

• Echo360 Capture Methods (Record, Live Stream, and Upload Content) (use for long term storage)

Instructor/Moderator Resources:

Creating and Starting a Conference

• Create a conference
• Start a conference

Running a Conference

• Video:  Moderator/Presenter Overview - This video covers all the basics of running a conference
• Record a conference
• Breakout Rooms Overview - video

Additional Conferences (BBB) Resources

Conferences Help - Canvas Guides

How many webcams can be shared at one time? All users will see all other user's webcams. Example: If you have 100+ people sharing webcams in a session, the usability of the session will be degraded. If you are running a large conference, we encourage you to Lock the viewer's ability to see other viewer's webcams as shown in the image below.

Student/Participant Resources:

Conference Basics

• Video: Student Overview
• Attending a Canvas Conference
• BBB status and Support Handbook 

Conferences in a Canvas Group

• How do I join a conference in a course as a student?
• How do I create a conference in a student group?
• How do I delete a conference in a student group?
• How do I edit a conference in a student group?
• How do I record a conference in a student group?
• How do I start a conference in a student group?

Additional Student Resources

• Canvas Conferences Student Guide pages
• How do I view Conferences in the Student app on my Android device?
• How do I view Conferences as a student on my iOS device?
• Minimum user requirements