Zoom

Using Zoom

SPS has their own specific Zoom domain that must be used for any Zoom activity at http://k12somerville.zoom.us.

Most of the time you will enter into a Zoom meeting by clicking on a direct link emailed to you in an invitation by the student's teacher, but in the event that the link doesn't work, you can go to http://k12somerville.zoom.us and choose to manually join a meeting by typing in the Meeting ID and Password that should also be provided by the teacher.

Joining a Zoom live conference

The most reliable way to join an SPS Zoom live conference is to open the Zoom Client on your device, and sign into the student's Google account from within the Client.

5) If you are asked to Create a Zoom account, go ahead and do it. Then you should see the same screen shown above in Step 2.

6) Leave the Zoom Client running, do not close the Zoom window! Go back to the Zoom live conference link that was given to you by the teacher.

7) Now when you click on the link, it should load correctly in the Zoom Client

If you are using a personal device, the best way to use the student's Zoom account is to set up a new user account for the student on your personal device. This is recommended for all things involving remote learning, as it keep's the student's information and accounts separate from everyone elses' on your personal device. Most devices have the ability to create multiple users, if you are unsure on how to do that please consult with your device's manufacturer. In the new user account, simply download the Zoom Client and sign into it as described above to join an SPS Zoom live conference.

Change your name in Zoom

If you need to change your name in Zoom (if you're sharing a device, for example), after following the above steps, when you have successfully signed in and see this screen:

Just click on the Join a meeting option at the top and you will be able to set the name you want. Remember to not close down Zoom before joining your next Zoom live conference, otherwise your name will not be saved.

Downloading Zoom on to your Device

The first time you use Zoom on any device, a web browser window will appear that will ask you if you wish to download the Zoom Client. This is the most stable experience to use Zoom and we recommend installing the Zoom Client when asked. SPS-issued Chromebooks will automatically install the Zoom Client when a student signs into the device, so no download is needed. If you do not wish to use the Zoom Client, you will see a link on the bottom of the Join Meeting page to "join from your browser". The browser-based Zoom program is more limited and the video/audio will be lower quality.

Waiting Rooms

All SPS Zoom live conferences have a waiting room before a participant can enter the conference. Hosts must be able to verify the participant in the waiting room is who they are expecting before allowing them to enter the live conference. Because of this, if you are given the option to type in your name before joining a Zoom live conference, you must type in a name that the teacher is expecting, otherwise you run the risk of being removed from the meeting.

Breakout Rooms

Teachers may sometimes use Breakout Rooms during a live conference to split the large main group up into smaller groups. When the teacher assigns Breakout Rooms, a window will appear asking if you want to Join the Breakout Room. Click "Join" to go in right away, or if you are told to not join right away, click "Later"

If you choose to Join the Breakout Room later, you will be able to "Join Breakout Room" at the bottom center of the Zoom window. If the teacher hasn't assigned Breakout Rooms, this icon will not appear.

Chat

Occasionally the teacher may request students post questions to the Chat in order to avoid the disruption of having too many people talking at once. The Chat window can be opened by clicking the "Chat" button in the bottom center toolbar.