Guide to Teaching with Zoom

Zoom Documentation

Zoom Documentation

Zoom Tips and Tricks for Teachers

Swarthmore Zoom Resources

Scheduling a Zoom Meeting

Zoom Participants Guide

General Zoom Advice

• Encourage everyone to find a quiet space in which to participate where they won’t be interrupted and where background noise won’t distract other people if they are asked to contribute.
• Be careful how you use the chat window. It can be used for comments/questions as class goes along, but understand that you won’t be able to see this window if you’re in a PowerPoint presentation.  Users that come in late to the meeting won't see any messages that came in before their arrival.

Connecting to your session

• Connect to the fastest internet connection available.
• Connect via ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi if possible.

Screen sharing tips

• Remove any photo backgrounds on your computer desktop.
• Close email and chat programs not being used for the presentation to avoid distracting pop-up messages.
• Don't crowd the view. Make sure to have one application visible at a time.
• If you need to switch between other applications, have them open and ready to demonstrate.
• Turn off your computer's "sleep" function--especially if a re-login is required.
• Remember to maximize your screen (click Full Screen) in Web demos.

Audio

• Use a quality headset, or microphone.
• Avoid speaker phones, which can cause voice fluctuation and background noise.

Engaging your audience

• Do a "dry run" with the same computer/audio equipment and internet connection you will use on the day of your class.
• Ensure adequate time to troubleshoot equipment. For instance: Make sure your audio and video settings are correct for your camera and microphone.
• Keep a timer and put time markers in your lesson plan to keep you on track.
• Activities may take more (or less) time than they would in a face-to-face class.  Perhaps have materials, or discussions you can include or drop depending on how the class is going.
• Do a dry run at least 48 hours before the live event.
• Open your meeting room 10-15 minutes before start time. Participants like to know if they have accessed the Zoom session correctly.
• Record your session in case anyone has technical problems, or for later review.  You can choose later whether or not to post or share the session.
• Click record … recordings are saved when you leave or end the meeting.

Acknowledgments

Some of this material was adapted from:

https://helpx.adobe.com/adobe-connect/kb/best-practices-hosts-presenters-using.html

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/six-tips-preparing-online-course/

Zoom Help Pages

• Adding Zoom Meetings to Google Calendar
• Alternative Host in Zoom Meeting
• Assign Someone Else to Schedule Zoom Meetings On Your Behalf
• Automated Captioning in Zoom
• Guide to Teaching with Zoom
• Manually Adding Zoom Videos to Panopto
• Recording a Zoom Meeting
• Schedule a Zoom Meeting
• Set Up a Recurring Meeting with No Fixed Time in Zoom
• Sign Into Zoom for Swarthmore Users
• Using a Co Host
• Zoom Meeting
• Zoom AI Companion
• Zoom Audio and Video Settings
• Zoom Meeting Integration with Moodle
• Zoom Meeting Privacy Options
• Zoom Participants Guide