Zoom is a web conferencing platform that enables remote teaching and virtual meetings from desktop computers and classrooms. All students at the university or state can create a Zoom account through the link. To host a meeting, you will need to activate your account and download the Zoom app. You do not need an account to join a Zoom session hosted by someone else.
What is Zoom?
Zoom is a tool for video conferencing and online chat to conduct classes, events, and meetings.
Setting Up Your Zoom Account
- All accounts start with a free registration for a basic license.
- Go to https://zoom.us/signup#/signup
- Enter your birth year, click continue
Enter your RPI email address - Create a password
- To get a Pro account, administrative budget approval is required
- Once you have created your free basic account and logged in, click on plans and pricing.
- Select upgrade to Pro to purchase an annual subscription using a credit card
Changing Your Display Name in Zoom
- Open the participants sidebar
- Hover over your name and select more
- Select rename
- Enter the desired display name and click rename
Share Your Screen in a Zoom Meeting
- When you are in a meeting, select the share screen button at the bottom to share content.
- A window will appear showing options for selecting the screen to display. You can also select a specific application or browser tab if you do not want participants to see anything else on your screen.
- If you want to share video or audio, make sure to check the options for share computer sound and optimize screen sharing for video clip at the bottom of the pop-up window.
Zoom Class Recordings
- Open ZOOM
- Go to the course navigation to Zoom
- Open the "cloud recordings" tab at the top, you should see all available recordings for your course there.
- Note: Your instructor must publish the recording before it becomes available, so it may not appear immediately after the class ends.
- Click on the title of the recording you want to watch
- From there, you can either watch the video in your browser or download it to your computer.
Best Practices When Using Zoom
- Connect from a computer or laptop instead of a mobile device.
- You will have a better experience interacting with your peers and viewing shared content when using a computer. You can use your phone for audio if that is more comfortable for you.
- Share video.
- Let your instructor and classmates know you are participating in the lesson and want to engage by sharing your webcam. If your internet is slow, turning off the video may help.
- Use a headset instead of a built-in microphone, if possible.
- Using a headset reduces background noise and microphone feedback. If you do not have a headset with a microphone, use
- earbuds or headphones to minimize sound feedback.
- Start muted. Your instructor may mute microphones upon entry, but be aware if this is not applied to your class. When muted, a red line will appear on the microphone icon.
- Use an appropriate background.
- Present yourself professionally by avoiding lying in bed or using distracting backgrounds. Use one of Zoom's digital backgrounds to hide your surroundings if necessary. Avoid digital backgrounds with movement.
- Minimize environmental distractions.
- Set your phone to "Do Not Disturb," or hang a sign to inform your roommates or family that you are in class, or put your dog in the backyard, or take other precautions to help you focus with your instructor and classmates during the session. Remind your roommates/home family that your camera is active.
- Wear clothing similar to what you would wear in person.
- Avoid wearing pajamas or any clothing that is distracting. Sit up straight during the class.
- Engage using reactions and ask questions via chat or microphone.
- Use the icons at the bottom of the "participants" tab to interact with the class. If you cannot unmute yourself, use the "raise hand" feature to access
- the microphone. Ask questions via chat or microphone. Participate in class activities and use the interaction icons in the "participants" tab.
Book a Zoom Appointment
- Click on the Zoom link
- Click on appointments
- Click on the name of the type of appointment you want to book
- Select the date and time
- Click on book
Getting Access to Zoom
- Webex is the institutional-level solution for collaboration and online video conferencing.
- Zoom is an approved program, and after obtaining approval from your department's budget officer, you can purchase a paid Pro account and submit it for reimbursement.
- What is the difference between a basic licensed account and a professional licensed account?
- Basic license: Allows hosting meetings with up to 100 participants. If 3 or more participants join, the meeting will end after 40 minutes. Add-ons for the account, such as large meetings, webinars, audio conferencing, or room connector, are not accessible.
- Professional license: The paid account allows you to host unlimited meetings without the 40-minute limit. By default, you can host meetings with up to 100 participants. It also provides access to add-ons and additional features such as cloud recording and the ability to customize your personal meeting ID, among many others.
Student Choice Meeting Rooms
As of October 2020, Zoom launched a new feature that allows instructors to enable students to choose their own breakout rooms. If they choose to use this feature, the following instructions will help you navigate between different breakout meeting rooms. When the instructor activates the feature, a separate rooms window will appear showing a list of available rooms to join.
- To join, hover your mouse over the right edge of the room name and click join, then click yes
- Once you enter the room, you have the option to switch between breakout meeting rooms. To do this, click the breakout rooms button, then select a breakout room, and then choose a new room from the list to join.
Submit to Purchases for Reimbursement
- Zoom web app
- Log in via the web
- Tips and tricks for scheduling a meeting
- Schedule a meeting via the web portal
- Join a meeting via the web portal
- Download the Outlook plugin
- Schedule a meeting in Outlook
- Create a meeting from an existing Outlook event
- Join a meeting via an email invitation
- Schedule recurring meetings
- Change time zone and time format
- Enable audio when sharing screen
- Enable automatic recording
- Enable breakout rooms
- Virtual background
- Create polls for a meeting
- Whiteboard
- Zoom desktop client
- Download and log in
- Desktop client check for updates
- Invite others to a scheduled meeting
- Schedule a meeting via the desktop client
- Join a meeting via the desktop client
Zoom System Requirements
Before downloading the Zoom app, ensure that your computer or mobile device can run it. Here are the system requirements for using the Zoom Desktop app on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
Internet connection, broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
Speakers and microphone, built-in or connected via USB or wireless Bluetooth
Webcam or HD webcam, built-in or connected via USB or HD camera/video camera with a video capture card
Supported Operating Systems
- MacOS X (10.9 or later)
- Windows 10 (does not support S mode), 8.1, 8, 7, Vista with SP1 or later, XP with SP3 or later
- Ubuntu 12.04 or higher
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 or higher
- Oracle Linux 6.4 or higher
- CentOS 6.4 or higher
- Fedora 21 or higher
- OpenSUSE 13.2 or higher
- ArchLinux (64-bit only)
Supported Mobile Devices
- Surface PRO 2 or higher running Windows 8.1 or higher
- iOS 8.0 or later (iPhone 4 or later, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, iPad 2 or later, iPod touch 4th generation, iPhone 3GS)
- iPad OS 13 or later
- Android 5.0x or later
Supported Browsers
- Windows: IE 11+, Edge 12+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
- MacOS: Safari 7+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
- Linux: Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
