Zoom User Tips and Etiquette
If you are not a Zoom user you might want to start with this handy video:
- Zoom 101 – Sign Up & Download Meeting Client (2:23) https://youtu.be/qsy2Ph6kSf8
If you haven’t already signed up for a free Zoom account, please do so before the meeting.
Once you have signed up, log in and test your computer audio (speaker & mic)
- Log into Zoom
- Click on the arrow next to the mute icon to open the Audio options.
- Select Test Computer Audio.
- Click on Test Speaker to test your speakers (whether external or via headset)
- Click on Test Mic to test your microphone (whether external or via headset)
- Once you have completed the testing, close the window.
Some additional info about meeting participation:
- The Host should send you a meeting invitation with the log-on information, meeting name, and password.
- The Host may set-up the meeting so that when you enter, your mic will be mute. We don’t want to hear everyone fumbling with coffee, snacks and the like. If you want to speak, you will need to know how to turn on your mic. Hint: The arrow next to the Mute icon.
- Even for a small group, use the “Raise Hand” icon when you want to speak .
Windows:
Attendees have access to these features:
Mute / Unmute: Mute and unmute your microphone.
Participants: See who’s currently in the meeting. The Participants list also gives you access to these options:
- Rename: Hover over your name and click Rename to change your screen name displayed to other participants.
- Non-verbal feedback icons (if enabled by the host): Places an icon beside your name to quickly notify the host. For example, Raise Hand places the raise hand icon beside your name and simulates a hand raise.
- Chat: Access the chat window to chat with the participants.
- Leave Meeting: Leave the meeting while it continues for the other participants.
iOS
The attendee controls appear at the bottom of your screen, except for Leave meeting that appears at the top-right corner.
Mute / Unmute: Mute or unmute your microphone.
Video: Start and stop your own video.
Share: Start a screen share. You’ll be able to select what you want to share.
Participants: See who’s currently in the meeting. The participants list also gives you access to these options:
- Rename: Tap your name if you want to rename yourself.
- Chats: Chat with other participants.
- More: View non-verbal feedback icons (if enabled by the host). Tapping an icon will notify the host by placing the icon beside your name in the participants list. For example, Raise Hand places the raise hand icon beside your name and simulates a hand raise.
Best Practices while in a Class/Meeting – “Etiquette”
- Sign into the Zoom desktop client and stay signed in.
- Check your internet speed. If you’re on free WiFi you may need to keep your camera off to improve quality.
- Turn your camera on and have your camera at eye level.
- Stay muted unless you’re talking to reduce background noise.
- Make sure you sit in a well-lit and quiet place.
- Be mindful of what’s going on behind you. Think about having a solid wall behind you.
- Raise your hand and wait for the host to acknowledge you before speaking.
Zoom Video Meeting User Tips
Mute your audio and turn off your camera by default
Diving for the mute audio and camera buttons as soon as you enter a meeting can get old. Keep fellow participants from seeing your bedhead or hearing your cat screeching by turning those off by default. To do it, go to Settings > Audio > Mute microphone when joining a meeting, and then Settings > Video > Turn off my video when joining a meeting.
Mute and unmute with the space bar
When you are called on to speak, stop scrambling to click the microphone button. You can press and hold the spacebar to quickly mute and unmute your mic, right from your keyboard.
React with emoji on screen
If you’re muted in a meeting, you can still let the hosts know your thoughts with emoji reactions. Send a “thumbs up” or a “clapping emoji” to communicate without interrupting the meeting (by default, those reactions have a yellow skin tone, but you can customize that on the Zoom desktop app).
To react during a meeting, click the Reactions tab at the bottom of the meeting screen (it’s in the same panel as mute audio and video, to the right) and choose the one you want. Emoji will disappear after 5 seconds.
If the meeting organizer enables the nonverbal feedback feature, participants can place an icon such as a raised hand next to their name to communicate. Every participant will be able to see each other’s feedback.
Turn on gallery view
Gallery view lets you see everyone in the meeting at once, instead of just the person speaking. To turn that on, click the tab that says “Gallery view” in the top right corner. If the meeting has 49 or fewer attendees, you’ll see all of their screens displayed on one page. If there are more, you’ll have the option to move between multiple pages. Change it back by clicking “Speaker view” in that same top right corner.
Sources:
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/13-zoom-video-chat-tips-tricks-and-hidden-features/
https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2019/11/27/video-meeting-etiquette-tips/
https://www.owllabs.com/blog/video-conferencing-etiquette