About Zoom

Clarify Expectations

Online platforms like Zoom offer new challenges for instruction. Here is some advice to offer your students.

• Restart your computer within 24 hours of your class meeting time, if you are accessing the session from a computer.

• Make sure you have reliable internet service. If you do not, consider the Student Computer Loaner Initiative.

• Secure a quiet, distraction-free location to attend your Zoom session.

• Do not join the session from a cell phone while driving/commuting in a car. NEIU values your safety.

• Use a headset or a USB media headset, not desktop speakers, to ensure an echo-free meeting environment.

• Treat the virtual class meeting like you would a class on campus. Accordingly, use positive and respectful communications and refrain from the use of offensive language.

• Avoid having more than one computer or device within earshot logged into the same meeting, since this may cause a distracting echo effect for participants in the session.

• If you have sufficient internet bandwidth to support use of a video camera, turning the video on encourages a sense of community in our classroom. If you can turn the camera on, and are comfortable being seen by your instructor and classmates on camera at home , it would be appreciated.

Provide Guidance

Walk your students through various Zoom functions. If you intend to use the chat box or want students to use the raise your hand function, let them know and show them how to do this. If you want them to mute their microphone unless they are speaking, let them know.

Let your students know what they should do if they have issues with internet connectivity during a Zoom session and need to re-connect. Posting the class Zoom link in a shared space (a D2L page, for instance) allows students to rejoin without needing to contact you. Students can also join Zoom via telephone, provided they have the Meeting ID, if they cannot connect via internet.

Put handouts, problem sets, instructions for group activities, or anything your students will need for class that day in one place (in D2L or in a shared Google Drive folder). Clearly label everything.

Use Icebreakers

We all need a reason to laugh and to connect, especially in the virtual environment. Take a look at these 21 free icebreaker activities to engage students and strengthen your learning community.

Zoom Meeting Set Up Feature

Set up your Zoom meeting link and distribute it to your students. If you plan to hold class (or office hours, or some other recurring meeting time) over Zoom, schedule your meeting as a recurring meeting so you can use the same URL for every meeting.

Chat Feature

The chat window allows participants to type messages and talk with the whole group, with you, and/or with each other individually. Students can ask questions by typing them in the chat window, answer questions, or add additional links and information. You can change chat permissions to set who students can chat with during a meeting.

Polling Feature

The Zoom polling feature allows you to conduct multiple-choice polls with your class. You can set up a poll ahead of time in a scheduled meeting, or create it in real-time by clicking the “Polling” button during a meeting.

Reactions Feature

Participants can clap or send a thumbs up by clicking “Reactions” at the bottom of their screen during a Zoom session. This feature displays a small image of the reaction in the corner of their video for a duration of five seconds. You can also enable nonverbal feedback in your Zoom meeting settings, to allow for additional reactions that will display in the Participant window. These buttons allow students to click a yes or no button, indicate thumbs up or thumbs down, and more. Set expectations for how you want your students to engage in your class to get the most out of this feature.

Breakout Rooms Feature

Breakout rooms allows small groups of students to problem solve, brainstorm, review course concepts and interact with each other. Plus, the instructor can move from group to group to offer support or simply to check in about the group’s progress.

Screen Sharing Feature

You can share your screen with your students, either your entire desktop or one application window that is open on your computer. Screen sharing allows students to view a power point, images, documents, etc. while you narrate.

Annotation Feature

Annotation lets students write, draw, or type on a shared screen or whiteboard in Zoom. Students can contribute on a problem set, edit group work, or otherwise collaborate by annotating within a Zoom meeting. You can enable or disable this feature in your settings.

Virtual Background Feature

For students whose computers meet the system requirements for Virtual Backgrounds, this feature can help protect cybersecurity, improve equity, and reduce the discomfort students may have if they feel uncomfortable sharing their living/study space. See this tutorial and other information about Virtual Backgrounds.