Logging Into Zoom
- Download the Zoom app on your device. On your mobile device, the first time you log in, make sure to select "Sign in with SSO." On the next screen, type IU, then Continue. Finally, sign in with your IU username and passphrase.
- If you have a link to your Zoom meeting, clicking it should launch the app automatically and connect you to the meeting.
Recommended: Before your first class, consider joining a test meeting to test your Internet, audio, and video connections.
While in a Zoom Class/Meeting
- Mute yourself when not speaking. You'll find the mute option at the bottom-left of the Zoom screen.
- To ask a question during class, raise your hand. If you click on Participants at the bottom of the Zoom screen, a list of participants should show up on the right, as will options to raise your hand, applaud, and ask the speaker to go faster/slower.
- How to change your name on a Zoom call:
- When you're in a Zoom meeting, after clicking on Participants, you can hover over your name in the participants list and click Rename to change your name. This can be helpful if Zoom identifies you with your IU username or phone number.
- Alternatively, you can update your profile information in Zoom. In the app, go to Settings, then Profile, then Edit Profile. In the web portal, just click on Profile.
- Here you can also upload a photo, which can be helpful if you cannot joint your Zoom meeting with video -- your photo will appear in your place.
Recommended: Before your first class, make a plan for how you'd like to take notes during your Zoom class. It can be very difficult to toggle between your notes and Zoom on the same screen. If you have a second monitor, or another device for taking notes, that's one good option. If you don't have that possibility, you might consider hand-writing your notes for Zoom classes.
Do I have to join a class by video?
One of the challenges of teaching over Zoom is that it's harder for instructors to gauge verbal cues from students, to see if any looks confused or frustrated. Having students join the Zoom class by video helps. If you're concerned about joining over video, the best thing to do is talk to your professor about it. Here are a couple more tips:
- Use a virtual background. If you're uncomfortable about having your living space featured on Zoom, you can add a virtual background instead. Details on how to add a virtual background can be found here.
- Out of courtesy to your instructor and classmates, please don't pick a distracting background.
- And speaking of distractions, please don't change your background multiple times during a Zoom session. Stick to one.
- Looking for inspiration? Here are some Hoosier-themed backgrounds. You can also pick good, high-resolution photos from Unsplash and Flickr's Library of Congress collection (if you want something lawyerly, search 'law' in either collection for great options).
- If you're having connectivity issues with your Zoom class, that can be a good time to turn your video off, as it takes more bandwidth to be on Zoom via video.
- As stated above, it's hard for instructors to detect verbal cues over Zoom. Whether or not you're joining via video, therefore, make sure to ask questions during class if you're confused.
For more on Zoom@IU: