Collaborate is a virtual meeting space available in Blackboard. The video below shows you how to add a Collaborate room to your course.
Please be aware that every institution has different implementations of Blackboard. The steps below might be slightly (or majorly) different than the steps I show here. Most institutions have instructional designers who can help you with the specifics at your institution. Get in contact with them. They are a great resource for professors.
Once you have Collaborate activated, you have a virtual meeting space similar to Zoom, or Webex. In this room you can talk to your students, write on a virtual white board, or share your screen. I use the room during my distance learning classes.
Adding Collaborate to Blackboard is relatively painless. Let others know how you are using Collaborate in your classes in the comments below.