Zoom

What is Zoom?

Zoom is a video conferencing software program which is used for a variety of online learning and teaching sessions at Monash; including large-scale information and orientation sessions, as well as regular learning activities like online lectures and tutorials.

Many lecturers and tutors will also use Zoom to host information sessions and consultations for students.
As a student, you may also use Zoom to access some student support services. You can also use Zoom to meet with your fellow classmates outside of your scheduled class time, which can be especially helpful for teamwork or study group situations.

Tips for using Zoom View

	1. Sign in and join early Zoom works a little better if you sign in to your Monash account before the scheduled time for the session (see the instructions on the getting started with Zoom page), but like all technology, things can go wrong sometimes. Therefore, in addition to signing in, it is helpful to join each Zoom session a couple of minutes early so that you have time for troubleshooting if needed, without missing out on anything.
	2. Be actively present The benefit of Zoom over other kinds of video-based learning, is that it is live, which means you can ask questions and take part in activities. The downside is that you cannot pause or rewind the video, so it is important to be fully present and engaged.
	3. Mind your mute setting In medium to large Zoom sessions, you should stay muted most of the time, and only unmute when you are speaking. This reduces background noise for everyone, which is especially important in a large group. For small discussion groups in which you are all taking frequent turns speaking, you may not need to keep muting and unmuting unless there is unavoidable background noise at your location. Visual elements can also result in a kind of background ‘noise' or distraction, so be mindful of your background, and check your lighting to ensure that you are not backlit. Aim for a muted, uncluttered, and professional image, so that people can see you and communicate with you clearly.
	4. Communicate with each other Zoom is a communication tool that is designed to be interactive. You will get the most out of the learning experience by actively interacting with the host and your fellow students. It is good to ask questions and contribute to the discussion as much as possible.
	5. Participate in every activity The more effort you put into any learning experience, the more you will learn. The interactive aspects of Zoom sessions are your chance to apply your knowledge and receive immediate feedback from your lecturers and tutors, as well as to meet, collaborate with and learn from your fellow students. Make sure you take the opportunity to participate in every poll, Q&A, whiteboard, and discussion activity - especially breakout room activities because they are designed with a focus on student participation and collaboration.

Getting started with Zoom

Installing, accessing and signing in to Zoom

Using the desktop app

Updating and personalising your profile

Joining a session

Using the menu options and controls

	Meeting information This icon is in the top left corner of the Zoom screen in the desktop app. You can view the meeting name, ID, passcode, and link here. This is convenient for confirming you are in the correct Zoom session.
	View This icon is in the top right corner of the Zoom screen in the desktop app. You can change the screen layout options here. It will only affect your view, not what other participants will see. Experiment to see which layout you prefer. For a full list of options and the difference between them visit Adjusting screen view settings during a virtual meeting
	Mute/Unmute/Join audio Use this menu option to mute and unmute yourself. If you have not connected your audio yet, you may see the “Join Audio” option instead. In the desktop app you can access and change your audio settings by clicking on the small arrow to the right of this menu icon.
	Stop/Start Video We recommend keeping your video on to improve communication during the session, especially during discussion activities such as breakout room discussions. In the desktop app you can access and change your video settings, including selecting a virtual background, by clicking on the small arrow to the right of this menu icon.
	Participants Use this option to access a list of all participants in the Zoom session. You can also access the option to change your display name here if it is permitted in the Zoom meeting settings. If enabled in the settings you can invite additional participants using this menu option, which is helpful for teamwork meetings.
	Chat Access the chat window to chat with the host and other participants. In most meetings you have the option of sending a message to everyone, or sending a direct message to an individual. In some meetings the direct message option may be disabled, or you may only be able to message the host, not everyone.
	Share Screen Click this option to share your screen (with permission from the host). Visit the Zoom Help Center for more information on Sharing your screen or desktop on Zoom
	Record Recording will only work if the host has granted you permission in the settings. This option is extremely helpful for recording video presentations. You can start an instant meeting to record an individual presentation on your own, or schedule a meeting with your co-presenters to record a teamwork presentation. For more information on using Zoom to make recordings, see the Record group presentations using Zoom page of this resource, or visit the Zoom Help Center page Recording in Zoom Rooms.
	Closed Captions/ Live Transcriptions If enabled by the host, you will see the Closed Captions (CC) button which you can click to request an automatically generated live transcription. See the next page of this resource for more information and instructions on how to use Closed Captions in Zoom. If you need captions for accessibility reasons, please register with Disability Services so that a professional transcription service can be organised for your classes.
	Breakout Rooms This option will only be visible if the host has set up Breakout Rooms. See the next page of this resource for more information and instructions on how to engage with others during Breakout Room activities in Zoom.
	Reactions The reactions menu option will let you choose visual feedback options, which will be displayed next to your name in the participants list, and in the corner of your video. See the next page of this resource for more information and tips on how to communicate using reactions.
	More On small screens, where not all of the menu options fit on the screen, some of them will be collected under the “more” menu option. If you do not see one of the options listed above, click “more” to access it. In the desktop app, there is also a “more” option available if you hover over a name in the participants list, or a video image in the main Zoom window, where you can access various additional options.
	Leave Click here to leave the Zoom session. Alternatively, you can simply close the Zoom application to leave the session.