Zoom comes pre-stocked with numerous security features designed to control online classrooms, prevent disruption, and help educators effectively teach remotely. Here are some best practices for securing your virtual classroom using Zoom.
- Open Zoom on your computer and join your meeting. Make sure that your microphone is on mute, and your volume is turned all the way down. Take note of the meeting ID as it will be needed in the following step
Note
Your laptop will control the meeting as the host. All operations (sharing your screen, breakout rooms, chat, etc.) are to be done on your laptop as you would when you are teaching remotely.
- Go to the touch panel and tap anywhere on the “FDU Logo“

Tip
If the screen is off, tap on it to wake the screen, then tap on the FDU logo.
- This should bring you to the input selection screen, tap the icon on the top left named “Video Conf”

- You should now see the navigation controls on the touch panel, where you can turn the projector on and off. Using the arrow keys on the touch panel navigate to the “Place a Call” on the projector and then tap “OK” button located in the middle of the arrows on the touch panel


- Navigate to “Contact” list using the arrows on the touch panel. Tap the “Down Arrow” and then the “Right Arrow” to move over into the contact list. From the directory list, select “A Zoom”. Tap the “OK” button twice on the touch panel to place the call

- Once connected you will be prompted to enter the meeting ID number. Tap the “#” button on the touch panel to enter your meeting ID by using the numeric keypad. Once you have entered the meeting ID number tap the “#” sign again

Note
If you have a meeting password, you need to enter it followed by the # sign.
If your meeting has a waiting room enabled, you will need to grant access to the ITV room on your computer.
- Once the meeting has ended, you can end the Zoom meeting by tapping the “Disconnect Hang-Up” on the touch panel
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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 clearly visible, non-pixellated, and can move and speak without noticeable delays
- You may need to give Zoom permission 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.
- 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 to everyone in the meeting, just 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 prior to class beginning.)
The Zoom Menu
The Zoom menu contains several features that can be used at any time throughout 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 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.
Issues Connecting to Zoom?
Prepared by Silberman College of Business
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Fairleigh Dickinson University offers a variety of technological resources and services for students. This guide will help students navigate the different tools to access and manage their accounts or information.
ID and Email
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Your FDU NetID
Your FDU NetID verifies who you are and ensures the privacy of your personal information. Your FDU NetID and your NetID password will provide access to a variety of IT resources including your Self-Service, WebCampus, Office365, and Email. To get your NetID, review the guide on how to Claim or Create an FDU NetID Account.
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Changing your FDU NetID Password
To protect the University and our students from cyber attacks and other malicious activity, we require that everyone in our community to periodically change their password. To change your password, review the guide on How To Change Your FDU NetID Password.
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Cisco DUO Multifactor Authentication
To successfully use your NetID to access your accounts, you will need Two-Factor Authentication with Cisco DUO MFA
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to your FDU NetID. It requires two factors to verify identity. These factors include something you know – your FDU NetID and password, and something you have – a phone or passcode, to authenticate and gain access to your account on FDU services. Passwords alone no longer provide adequate protection against cyber hacking. DUO is required for all current FDU students.
Review the Duo – Student Quick Start Guide to set up your mobile device with Cisco DUO MFA, and look at the Cisco Duo FAQ’s to get more information about Cisco DUO MFA.
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Email and Office 365
Students can access their emails through any Web browser using their NetID and password to log in. To access our email, visit the Office Portal Login.
Students can also access their FDU Email accounts on their mobile devices by installing the Outlook app. Read the guide below:
Current students who are registered for classes for the current term, or a future term have access to Microsoft Office 365 Suite applications. For more information, click on the links below:
Academic Systems
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Webcampus
Webcampus is a course content management system. FDU’s Webcampus is also known as the Blackboard System. On-line courses are taught through this system which also allows for interaction between the student and faculty member as well as on-line class discussions.
To learn more about how to access Webcampus, read the guide on How to log in to Webcampus.
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Self-Service
Self-Service is an interactive web application that enables students to view their individual information contained in FDU’s Student Information System. Students can use Self-Service to do things like view their financial aid, pay their bills, and register for classes.
To learn more about how to use Self-Service, review the Self-Service Tutorial.
Network
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Connect to the FDU Network
With your FDU NetID, you can connect to the FDU Network. For detailed instructions view the links below:
Security
Software
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Available Software for FDU Students
Fairleigh Dickinson University has both licensed and open-source software, that is offered for academic and/or personal use for students. The links below point out to commonly used software, both licensed and open source, that are offered for academic and/or personal use to all Fairleigh Dickinson University faculty, staff and students.
- Software Catalog
- Microsoft Teams Tutorial
- How to Successfully Attend Class via Zoom
- How to Access OneDrive
Printing and Labs
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Computer Labs and Printing
Computing Services has multiple computer labs available on both New Jersey Campuses for classroom instruction and student use. Visit the links below for more information.
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Virtual Labs
FDU also provides remote access to many of the software applications typically found in university computer labs through our platform FDU Anywhere. You can access it using your FDU NetID credentials through this link FDU Anywhere. You can also review the FDU Anywhere Tutorial for more information on how to use our virtual labs.
Frequent Asked Questions
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Fairleigh Dickinson University Technical Assistance Center (UTAC)
For any IT related questions and support, contact our Fairleigh Dickinson University Technical Assistance Center (UTAC) through the Fairleigh Dickinson Technical Assistance Center (UTAC) or the support page.
Need help?
If you are scheduled to attend class using Zoom and you run into technical difficulties, here are some steps you can take.
Common Fixes for Zoom Connection Issues
- Do. Not. Panic. This shift to distance learning is a sudden change. We will do everything we can to support your learning
- Try your best to progress through the steps and troubleshooting resources below. Join when you are able. You can use the chat or hand-raising function once you join the class to let the faculty know if you have questions.
- Try to exit Zoom and open it again
- Try to restart your device and re-open Zoom
- Check that you do not have pop-ups blocked. Also check that you have “allowed” the Zoom browser extension to operate, if needed
- Try on a different device, if you have access to one. If you do not have access to a different device, proceed to step 6
- If you still cannot access Zoom after taking these steps, please contact the University Technical Assistance Center (UTAC) with a description of the problem (e.g., error message that you received). Please also bring the issue to the attention of your instructor so they can let you know what you missed in the class session that you were unable to attend
More Resources for Troubleshooting with Zoom
The following troubleshooting guide gives support for all devices that Zoom supports.
See also
Need help?
Zoom experts host free and interactive live training webinars daily. Get up to speed in less than an hour. Please select the time zone that fits best for you when registering for one of our live training webinars.
Need help?
Fairleigh Dickinson University has rooms dedicated as Zoom Rooms where you could have hybrid in person and remote learning.
On this page, you will find a link for the location of the Zoom Rooms on both New Jersey campuses, links for instructions on how to use the Zoom Rooms and the equipment for installed rooms, cart rooms and connecting with ITV rooms.
Need help?
Zoom is a web-based video conferencing tool that allows users to meet online, with or without video. Zoom users can choose to record sessions, collaborate on projects, and share or annotate on one another’s screens, all with one easy-to-use platform. It offers quality video, audio, and a wireless screen-sharing performance across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Zoom has a feature-rich, mobile app for both iOS and Android, allowing you to virtually connect from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Installing the Zoom Browser Client
- The web browser client will download automatically when you start or join your first Zoom meeting, and is also available for manual download.
- Once downloaded, you can go to the Zoom folder in your “START” menu and click “Start Zoom” on a PC or click on the “Zoom.us” app located in the applications folder on a Mac. Alternatively, you can open the application by searching for Zoom in your computers search bar.
To start, visit https://fdu.zoom.us
- Click on “Sign In” at the top-right corner of the page and type your FDU NetID credentials

- After logging in, you will see your profile information.
- Joining a meeting – Click on the link and enter the meeting ID number provided by the host.
- Hosting a meeting – You can host a meeting with or without video. Click on the option that you need and the meeting should start automatically.
- Scheduling a meeting – Click on Meetings on the left navigation area and then click on Schedule a New Meeting.


Installing the Zoom Native Client
The following steps are for users who have already downloaded the Zoom desktop client or are planning to use the client. These instructions are NOT for users who will be using the web browser to participate in a Zoom meeting.
- Launch the Zoom Desktop client
- Click on “Sign In“

- Click “Sign In with the SSO“

- Type “FDU” in the company domain field and click “Continue“

- You will be redirected to a page where you will be asked to login using your FDU NetID credentials

- After signing in click “Open Zoom Meetings“
Zoom Mobile Apps and Plugins Install Links
Outlook Plugin
Mobile Apps
Resources for Troubleshooting Issues with Zoom
The following troubleshooting guide gives support for all devices that Zoom supports.