Below is a list of recommendations and tips that Liz Moliski put together to improve your online class experience and student engagement. Start by 1) reviewing all info on this page first and then 2) consider what tips you want to implement. Note, there are many tips you should or could implement. Focus on what you think will bring the most value to your class. If you have questions please direct them to VC-Trouble@mccombsZoomHelp@mccombs.utexas.edu.
How to avoid issues inside a Zoom Room equipped classroom
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Zoom Rooms - Instructions on Connecting to
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McCombs Zoom Rooms
Please watch the video pertaining to the MSB building that your class is located in for a quick tutorial on how to use the Zoom rooms.
- GSB 2nd Floor, GSB 5.142, CBA 4.304 & 4.344: https://utexas.box.com/s/qea2bt04xo94887ecbodx8sn8qycw57k
- GSB 3rd Floor, CBA 4.328: https://utexas.box.com/s/fr1uxcxo8ge0fn8mz4rletp9hsx1bdg3
- UTC (except 2nd floor auditoriums): https://utexas.box.com/s/vc5une7n1j8rzmlzm0ki827upr6pjz98
- RRH: https://utexas.box.com/s/d0esx9xg3lmmkxvhrm8uj4qfme59i9o6
- Exceptions:
- Most CBA, GSB, and UTC rooms use MediaSite for lecture capture
- GSB 3.128 – active learning classroom, no zoom, lecture capture only through MediaSite Cart
- CBA 5.328 and 5.330 – lecture capture through MediaSite, no Zoom
Alternate Zoom Room Setup for Better Meeting Quality
This method of initiating a Zoom meeting puts the bulk of the Zoom workload onto your laptop, which will result in a better meeting experience with clearer video. Another advantage is that you can do polls and use breakout rooms.
Note: The instructions for UTC/Rowling Hall Zoom Rooms are slightly different than those for rooms in CBA/GSB. Please proceed with the appropriate set of instructions.
For UTC and Rowling Hall Zoom Rooms
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For CBA and GSB Zoom Rooms
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We have attempted to make using Zoom in our rooms as simple as possible for Hybrid teaching. This room is equipped with a "Zoom Room" computer. The Zoom Room will use the room's tracking camera, the room's ceiling microphone and/or optional wireless microphone, and any content - the document camera, or your Laptop connected through an HDMI cable or AirMedia - you are sharing on the projector.
Quick Start
Here is the basic set up to launch a Zoom session in a room There are two options to Launch the meeting;
Important:There is no reason to additionally launch zoom on your laptop. Your screen and computer audio is being shared with other Zoom participants if it is displayed on the projector. This will start your Zoom Meeting. If the meeting is set to record, you will hear a voice over the speakers say, "Recording in progress." If you would like to regularly record classes, we recommend that you use Panopto instead of Zoom. You can use Zoom and Panopto in tandem - so you can have a guest lecturer over Zoom without having to worry about adjusting your Zoom settings. You can learn more about Panopto in the Lecture Capture tab above! |
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While you may have scheduled Zoom meetings in the past through the Zoom application on your laptop or phone, we encourage that you schedule your Zoom meetings through your course in Canvas. You can find those instructions on our wiki, Zoom/Canvas Integration. After you schedule your Zoom meeting through Canvas, you will need to follow our Zoom Room Scheduling instructions. |
Confidence Monitor
All of our Zoom Rooms are now equiped with a confidence monitor. It could be a TV at the front or back of the room, or an additional small screen at the lectern. The confidence monitor will always show what you are sharing, so you able to teach with confidence. Once you connnect to a Zoom meeting, a new dialog will show on the room's touch panel, which gives the confidence monitor new sharing options.
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If you would like to test the room's functionality prior to your first day of class, we recommend scheduling a Demo with Media Services. These are typically 15-30 minutes, depending on what the room has to offer and how much you would like to know.
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Plan to be on camera
- Pick an appropriate teaching background, such as a bookcase or office, while hosting
- Look at the camera, just as you would look at students in the class
- Zoom is optimized for video communication
- Make sure your audio is on and you use appropriate tone (not too soft or too loud)
- Dual screen setups let you share one desktop with students and keep Zoom controls on the other one. You can use your TV or another monitor as the second screen. It works just like plugging into a classroom projector. You have to set this up in your monitor preferences while you are connected to your second screen. Click here to learn more...
- Be careful of what you have on your desktop if you plan to share the entire desktop so that students can see multiple applications at once (i.e., slides and Excel) but not things you don’t want them to see (i.e. text message from your friend about lunch)
- Slides should be simple, without animations if possible. Connection lags can affect animations and screen shares. Consider PDF format for sharing slides since this taxes bandwidth less.
- Monitoring bandwidth usage - If you get slowness check out Slow Internet Connection Tips and be aware that the more you share (i.e. camera on, sharing screens) the more likely latency can occur.
- Use a solid network, such as your home internet or a hardwired internet connection.
- Consider using a headset (particularly if you are using PC. Macs tend to have fewer issues, in general)
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- Zoom Class meetings: Students that are signed into Zoom with their UT Zoom licensed account will be admitted to class meetings immediately. Students signed into Zoom with personal or free accounts are restricted from immediately joining class meetings and will be placed in the Waiting Room
- New Security Measures: As of April 8th, Zoom has started implementing new security measures. Here is a message that outlines them: https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/04/08/zoom-product-updates-new-security-toolbar-icon-for-hosts-meeting-id-hidden/
- Zoom Office Hours meetings: Here is a tutorial for Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Office Hours
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Remove a Participant from a Zoom Meeting
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- If your guest has a Zoom account but not a UT licensed account you will need to follow these instructions to admit them to your Zoom meeting: Guest Speakers
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Giving Permission to Students to View Zoom Recordings
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Office Hours in Zoom
- Here is a tutorial for Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Office Hours
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Establish procedures at the start of the first class
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To learn more about using the Breakout Rooms feature please go here.
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Zoom Meeting and Phone Statistics
Meeting statistics allow you to view various diagnostic information during a meeting. This allows you to gauge whether you are experiencing a network, audio, or video issue during your meeting. Please visit this Zoom article for more information:
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For McCombs faculty, please contact Media Services via email or phone:
- Email VC-Trouble@mccombsZoomHelp@mccombs.utexas.edu
- Call 512-232-6679 (GSB/CBA) and 512-232-4646 (RRH)
For all other UT faculty, please contact your respective college or school