When preparing for a Zoom class, the 15 minutes before it begins are crucial for setting yourself up for success. In these final moments, finding a quiet, well-lit space with a strong internet connection is key. Ensuring your camera, microphone, and environment are ready will help you avoid any distractions or technical difficulties during class. With everything in place, you can focus on fully engaging in the session, confident that you’re ready to participate seamlessly.
15 Minutes Before Class Starts
- 15 minutes before class starts, find a quiet place with strong internet that is free of distractions. Remember that everyone in the class will be able to see you! Find an appropriate background and make sure the room is well-lit. Make sure that you have your device plugged in so you don’t need to worry about battery issues mid-class
- Open Zoom. You can open Zoom by clicking the link your professor sends you or downloading the Zoom app or program on your device. If you have headphones, plug them in now
- Test your microphone and camera
- To test your microphone, click “Test Computer Mic & Speakers” in the pop-up window that appears when first opening a test meeting or beginning your scheduled meeting
- To test your camera, just look at the Zoom window to see that you are visible, non-pixellated, and can move and speak without noticeable delays
- You may need to permit Zoom to access your camera and microphone beforehand. Typically, the request for permission will appear in a pop-up window the first time you open a Zoom Meeting, and will carry over to future meetings. If you declined permissions in the past, you will need to go into your PC or Mac’s settings to allow Zoom to access your camera and microphone
- To test your microphone, click “Test Computer Mic & Speakers” in the pop-up window that appears when first opening a test meeting or beginning your scheduled meeting
- Close any windows or programs open on your device that are unrelated to class.
During Class
- Click Start Video to begin broadcasting from your webcam
- Use the Chat bubble as appropriate. You can chat with everyone in the meeting, the professor, or a specific person
- Find out who else is in the meeting by clicking Participants. This is also where you can “raise your hand” to ask or respond to a question
- Be prepared to share your screen with the class (If you do so, we will see all tabs you have open. We could also see your email, messages, etc. Please ensure that anything you would like to keep private is closed before class begins)
The Zoom Menu
The Zoom menu contains several features that can be used during class meetings. For laptops, PCs, and Macs the menu can be found by hovering over the bottom of the Zoom window. In the Zoom app, the menu can be accessed by tapping the bottom of the app window. Here is a picture of the menu bar.
- Mute: Silences and unsilences your microphone. Your professor will “Mute” the whole class to reduce background noises, but if you’d like to speak, you need to click “Unmute” first
- Share Screen: Allows you to share a variety of windows and applications. Participants can share views of their desktops and specific windows currently open on their computer, write on a digital whiteboard, and even share a screen directly from their iPhone or iPad
- Chat: You can send messages to everyone, just the professor, or a specific person
General Zoom Etiquette
- Getting a clear video is a lot like taking a good selfie. Light your face more brightly than the background to make it easier to see you
- Remember that everyone else can see you
- Be yourself, move physically, and make facial expressions
- Microphones pick up all ambient noise, so keep your mic muted until it’s your time to speak.
- Remember that when on camera, other activities such as eating, drinking, shuffling papers, etc are extremely distracting
If you’re having trouble joining a Zoom meeting or class, refer to the article below for troubleshooting tips.
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