How to Zoom

Zoom For Students

Introduction

Enjoy online courses in the comfort of your home. These courses rely on the popular Zoom platform. To join such a course, you need ONE of the following:

  1. A web browser, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Firefox, etc. installed on a tablet or computer with a built-in or attached speaker, microphone, and ideally a camera.

  2. The Zoom app, loaded into a phone or tablet, or the Zoom desktop client in a computer, again with speaker and microphone, and a camera. There are different versions of these depending on which device you are using, but all are easily available for free by clicking the link below or from whatever service you use to acquire apps.

Preparing for the Class

After you register for the course you will receive an email from our Amilia registration platform giving a link for joining. Make sure you save this email where you can easily access it for each succeeding session in the course: the same link applies to all sessions. Next, decide which option you will follow.

If you choose 1) there is no need to open a Zoom account: just make sure you have a web browser on your device: it will open automatically when you click on the link in the email.

If you choose 2), make sure you have first downloaded the Zoom application to your device. Open the application in advance and register for a free account. If you are new to Zoom, familiarize yourself with the layout of menus and settings that you can adjust. It’s not a bad idea to practise using the app with a friend well in advance of the course.

Again, PLEASE SAVE the email invitation so that you have it for future classes in the course. The easiest way to avoid losing emails in your Inbox is to create a folder in your email account for each particular purpose.

The Day of the Class

MIEC will send you a reminder email, containing the Zoom link, ten minutes before the the class. Please begin the process of joining 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start-time. The process can take a few minutes, depending on your setup. Be patient if it seems that nothing is happening, though after five minutes or so you might want to start again.

Whichever of the two options you use, clicking the link will normally activate your browser (unless you are already a registered Zoom user). Follow the directions on the screen. You will usually be offered a choice between proceeding in the browser (“on the web”) or opening an installed app. Choose the button “Launch Meeting” if you already have the app and want to use it, and again be patient.

In this process Zoom will often try to install the app or to update it if you already have it installed. It’s an annoying feature, but it usually works if you let it. “Launch Meeting” will sometimes bypass this activity.

Depending on the setup chosen by the Zoom Administrator, you may have to  join the class with a numerical meeting code given in the email invitation; or else you will be admitted automatically (the default setting for MIEC at this time).

Once you’re in, look for the icon buttons representing a microphone and a movie camera: you can choose whether to have these on or off. If the button has a diagonal red line through it, the microphone or camera is off.

Once the Class Starts

Your teacher will say whether students should keep their microphones on or off during the times when they are not speaking. Muting the microphones prevents annoying echoes, feedback, and distractions which might otherwise occur, but is sometimes acceptable or indeed welcome. The teacher may also give advice on various matters of etiquette in the use of the technology. Please understand that the teacher is there to teach, not to troubleshoot any technical issues you may experience: these of course will be minimal if you prepare yourself well in advance.

At the close of the class, you can leave by clicking on the red button.

Need More?

For further information, please visit learning.zoom.us/learn, then select “Show Me Videos” and scroll down to Zoom Meetings – there you will find a number of short videos explaining the basics.

In addition, there are two local organisations which offer free help with Zoom and other computer applications:

Literacy Central Vancouver Island (Nanaimo)

The Technology Learning Centre (Parksville)