Ask An Expert About Zoom

All questions received and answers from our expert are posted here. Click to see the answers or enter a keyword find a certain topic.

How do I get a list of attendees after each meeting on Zoom?

You log into the Zoom website and on the left-hand column you will see Profile and further down you see Reports. Set the date and search for your course. When you see it, click on the Participants number at the right. You will then see the list of participants. You can Export the list to Excel if you wish. It is possible the U Man has set up Zoom differently but I hope it's the same. If it's different, you'll have to speak to your IT support staff.

Is there a list of online protocols to advise students about at the first Zoom meeting?

Here is an example from York U that you could use. See https://lthelp.yorku.ca/94581-zoom/zoom-meeting-etiquette.

I don't have the most sophisticated living arrangement so I don't usually have my camera turned on. I tried a session with students with their cameras off -- since I figured they might want their privacy too. Any tips or suggestions to improve things?

Yes it is very impersonal using Zoom without video. I suggest that you use a virtual background to protect your privacy. Almost any .jpg or png picture file will work, but 1920 x 1080 is the recommended size. You can also Google for background images.

Ask students to turn on their video but I wouldn't require it. They too can use virtual backgrounds. If they don't want to use video, you might ask them to use a still photo instead. You can point them tohttps://gadgetstouse.com/blog/2020/07/28/show-profile-picture-in-zoom-meeting-instead-of-video/ or they can just Google for help.

I have students who are individually presenting 5-10 minute presentations to the class on Zoom. I thought that having them present to small breakout rooms would be more efficient, I cannot figure out how to record each breakout session individually.

Glad to hear you've enjoyed my webinars. What you're doing makes a lot of sense for a large class. You can't record each session yourself unless you are actually in the room. Therefore, you'll have to designate one student in each group to do the recording. Before you send them to groups, right click on the designated students' names and allow them to record. They will have to record to their own computer as they won't be able to record to the cloud. Then you'll have to figure out a way for them to get the recording to you. The files will be too large to upload to your LMS (if you're using one). The simplest option is to tell them to upload it to YouTube, as they probably know how to do this, and make the recording private. They can then send you the link.

Yes, you have to stay in the session but that shouldn't be a problem as you can just mute your audio and turn off video. I haven't tried this, but you should be able just to leave the meeting but not end it for all without affecting their recording. When you exit, you'll be prompted for this option.

Do you have any suggestions on how I would start to use the Zoom class time as efficiently as possible?

Yes, I think you are on the right track in thinking of different ways to use Zoom, including one-on-one meetings with students. You want to avoid "talking heads" where the class is dominated by the instructor. You may be interested in participating in one of the upcoming webinars on teaching effectively with Zoom. See https://teachonline.ca/webinars. In the webinar, our host Dr. Ron Owston talks about 4 models that you can use to actively engage students. For example, in your class you might consider Model 1 and have students go into breakout groups to practice skills and then report back to the class. Or Model 4 where you show and discuss videos on topics of relevance.

I set up a Zoom session on the same schedule as normal class schedule. Not all students show up (we do record the session so that those who miss class can see it later). Should I insist on everyone attending?

This is about your institutional policies for attendance and how these have been modified to take account of COVID-19 pandemic. Follow the guidance issued by the college or university you work for.

Our response is more about what the experience of being present is like for the learner. If you are simply offering content (e.g. a lecture) then whether they “hear” it live or see it later does not really matter. If you are engaging in learning activities, watching others do so later means that they have missed something. If being present would make a real difference to their experience and understanding, then connect with those who “missed” the class and encourage them to be present by explaining what they are missing.

Recognize in doing so that your students world has suddenly changed. Many will have children at home out of school, some will be caring for unwell partners or children, many will be struggling with the sudden loss of work / income.

I have no clue how to use this Zoom thing. Any suggestions?

Zoom is a widely used videoconference and teaching system across the world.

Contact North | Contact Nord just published an introduction to how to use it: https://teachonline.ca/tools-trends/tools-to-teach-online/how-to-use-zoom-videoconferencing-to-teach-online-effectively

There also some useful resources of Zoom on its website: https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/03/22/how-to-use-zoom-for-online-learning/

I’m wondering how to go smoothly from lecturing to showing a video clip either from a hard drive or an external DVD player without revealing my home screen. Also where is the easiest place to put up pre-existing text related to the lecture?

With most video conference apps, such as Zoom.us, you can share only windows that are open with no need to share your entire desktop. Another option is to upload your video to Youtube and let your students view it from there. You can choose to make the video private and share the URL with only your class. You must be observant of copyright laws when you do this if you don't own the material. You could look at this video for help with uploading to Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtF2AgFSLAw.

As for your second question, I'm not quite sure what you mean by "put up text." If you mean you want to share your document live, then Zoom is also your best bet. Or if you just want to make it accessible to students at any time, you could post it at https://docs.google.com. Zoom also has a whiteboard tool that will allow you to write live just like you would do in person. You could also do the same with Google Docs but it is not as convenient.

I teach a Music Theory course and will do so this fall via Zoom. How will I have to prepare a PowerPoint presentation similar to what Ron used this morning for each of my classes?

You could organize your class using a blended online model e.g., some parts would be online asynchronous with a learning management system, such as Moodle or D2L, and some would be synchronous via Zoom. You would have to look at your content as determine what is best for each mode.

For Zoom you would then probably want to do a PPT presentation for key concepts, but a "talking head" is ok too provided you don't go more than 10-15 min without stopping for questions, etc.

As for student work, they would have to scan it if the work is not done on a word processor or other specialized software. If it's done using software, then they could upload the file via your learning management system and you could read it. Another idea might be to have students share their work with the class although this might take up too much time.

No, you probably wouldn't use the whiteboard. It sounds like you may be using special music annotation software. In that case, you can simply share your screen and students will be able to see what you are doing on the software. If it has sound, make sure to click the box in the Sharing screen to Play Computer Sound.

How do you teach half of your class online and the other half of your class in a face-to-face setting at the same time using Zoom?

Your dilemma is the same one facing many schools and universities, but there is a possible solution that has been around for some time. It's called the HyFlex model and it's designed to do exactly what you seem to be contemplating. See https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/learning-innovation/fall-scenario-13-hyflex-model for a brief description and follow the links. The creator of the model is Dr Brian Beatty and he's written a free book about the model. See https://edtechbooks.org/hyflex/. The only caveat I would give is that there is a tendency for teachers to ignore the online students and not engage them. So teachers must develop strategies to involve them in classroom activities, otherwise they just seem like lurkers and will get off task quickly.

When students are in breakout rooms, can they see activity instructions on their screen (in the ppt presentation)? Or should I provide an additional activities handout so that they have it in front of them?

No when students are in their breakout rooms they cannot see your slides any more. Simplest would be to send them a file (in Zoom via the Chat window - click on 3 dots on the right to transfer a file). Then they can print it or simply view it on their own computer while in the group. Or one student in the group could simply share the document with others. Make sure that Screen Share for everyone is turned on before students go into groups.

When universities like mine schedule 3-hour blocks for classes - how does one 'stretch' any one of your pedagogical models to keep students engaged for that length of time? An hour yes, but three?

I agree 3 hours is very long, so you have to think creatively on how to use the time. Knowing the size and subject might help, but generally speaking you may find the Balanced Model most useful. You could assign students to activity/work/discussion groups, say for 30 minutes, and have them report back. Then you could ask them to go back into their groups for continued discussion/work. Here’s a rough idea:

Icebreaker, agenda, mini lecture - 20 min

Discussion - 10 min

Breakout session1 – 30 min

Report back – 20 min

Class break – 10 min

Breakout session 2 – 30 min

Report back – 20 min

Closing mini lecture – 20 min

Evaluative poll – 10 min

This adds up to 170 min. That’s long enough and you probably will run overtime for the activities anyway, so you could consider this to be a 180 min class.

Admittedly, this will be hard to sustain for an entire term. If you have the option, you might hold the Zoom class every other week and the week in between you could have asynchronous activities and assignments.

Just today I ran across this article about how a professor organized her 1 ½ hour class twice a week. See https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2020/08/19/advice-how-make-zoom-classes-energizing-and-community-building-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4b9e1d7949-DNU_2020_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4b9e1d7949-233803933&mc_cid=4b9e1d7949&mc_eid=966c0c2c4d

When accessing the Zoom reports to take class attendance will I see the students personalized name (edited name on zoom) or will the university provide me with the student names since they are accessing Zoom from my institution's LMS?

Yes, you will see the students' personalized names in the Usage Reports (not the Meeting Reports). They will still be able to rename themselves even if they are authenticated through your institution's LMS. However, if you don't want them to personalize their names, in the security icon in the meeting menu bar you can uncheck "Allow participants to rename themselves." If you do this, there is a chance that you will not recognize their institutional single sign or LMS user name because students normally can customize it too. I think the best solution would be to tell students to personalize their Zoom names only minimally so that you can always recognize who each person is.

There is a chance that your institution has done some back-end work that integrates Zoom more fully with the LMS, so I would advise checking with the technical support staff just to be safe if this is critical information that you need.

Why is it important to use the waiting room? I found that using it meant that students who were late were stuck outside the class until I let them in. I found that disruptive.

Yes, I recommend a waiting room. The reason is that it allows you to review the list of participants in advance to make sure they are all in your class. This is a measure to prevent unwanted intruders and potential Zoom-bombers. Yes, I agree it’s a nuisance to have to pause and admit latecomers.

Here is my suggestion. Make sure your meeting has a passcode. Tell students never to share the meeting link with anyone else. Enable the waiting room and admit students when you are ready. Then go to the security tool on the bottom toolbar and uncheck Waiting Room. This allows latecomers to enter directly, but of course it does open up a small security risk too. At an appropriate point, say 10-15 minutes into your class, enable the meeting lock. This ensures no one else can get in. You’ll have to warn students that you will be doing this. It’ll be an added incentive for them to come on time!

You certainly can choose not to bother with the waiting room. This risk is relatively small especially if student video, chat and sharing are disabled at the beginning. Then you could simply lock the meeting a bit later.

I’ve never had intruders into my courses, but I wanted to give advice on the most secure way to set up a meeting. The biggest security breach is usually students sharing the meeting link with others. If Laurentian requires authentication (eg single sign-on) to use Zoom, then intruders can be identified, and I doubt if potential intruders would take that risk. If not, you do have to be more vigilant.

I have a Zoom license from my institution. How do I set up a meeting as host.

After you log into the Zoom app, you click on New Meeting and set the meeting time, date, etc. By doing this you become the host.

Contact North | Contact Nord Research Associate and Zoom expert Dr. Ron Owston is here to help you!

Questions and Answers about Zoom

How do I get a list of attendees after each meeting on Zoom?

How do I get a list of attendees after each meeting on Zoom?

Is there a list of online protocols to advise students about at the first Zoom meeting?

Is there a list of online protocols to advise students about at the first Zoom meeting?

I don't have the most sophisticated living arrangement so I don't usually have my camera turned on. I tried a session with students with their cameras off -- since I figured they might want their privacy too. Any tips or suggestions to improve things?

I don't have the most sophisticated living arrangement so I don't usually have my camera turned on. I tried a session with students with their cameras off -- since I figured they might want their privacy too. Any tips or suggestions to improve things?

I have students who are individually presenting 5-10 minute presentations to the class on Zoom. I thought that having them present to small breakout rooms would be more efficient, I cannot figure out how to record each breakout session individually.

I have students who are individually presenting 5-10 minute presentations to the class on Zoom. I thought that having them present to small breakout rooms would be more efficient, I cannot figure out how to record each breakout session individually.

Do you have any suggestions on how I would start to use the Zoom class time as efficiently as possible?

Do you have any suggestions on how I would start to use the Zoom class time as efficiently as possible?

I set up a Zoom session on the same schedule as normal class schedule. Not all students show up (we do record the session so that those who miss class can see it later). Should I insist on everyone attending?

I set up a Zoom session on the same schedule as normal class schedule. Not all students show up (we do record the session so that those who miss class can see it later). Should I insist on everyone attending?

I have no clue how to use this Zoom thing. Any suggestions?

I have no clue how to use this Zoom thing. Any suggestions?

I’m wondering how to go smoothly from lecturing to showing a video clip either from a hard drive or an external DVD player without revealing my home screen. Also where is the easiest place to put up pre-existing text related to the lecture?

I’m wondering how to go smoothly from lecturing to showing a video clip either from a hard drive or an external DVD player without revealing my home screen. Also where is the easiest place to put up pre-existing text related to the lecture?

I teach a Music Theory course and will do so this fall via Zoom. How will I have to prepare a PowerPoint presentation similar to what Ron used this morning for each of my classes?

I teach a Music Theory course and will do so this fall via Zoom. How will I have to prepare a PowerPoint presentation similar to what Ron used this morning for each of my classes?

How do you teach half of your class online and the other half of your class in a face-to-face setting at the same time using Zoom?

How do you teach half of your class online and the other half of your class in a face-to-face setting at the same time using Zoom?

When students are in breakout rooms, can they see activity instructions on their screen (in the ppt presentation)? Or should I provide an additional activities handout so that they have it in front of them?

When students are in breakout rooms, can they see activity instructions on their screen (in the ppt presentation)? Or should I provide an additional activities handout so that they have it in front of them?

When universities like mine schedule 3-hour blocks for classes - how does one 'stretch' any one of your pedagogical models to keep students engaged for that length of time? An hour yes, but three?

When universities like mine schedule 3-hour blocks for classes - how does one 'stretch' any one of your pedagogical models to keep students engaged for that length of time? An hour yes, but three?

When accessing the Zoom reports to take class attendance will I see the students personalized name (edited name on zoom) or will the university provide me with the student names since they are accessing Zoom from my institution's LMS?

When accessing the Zoom reports to take class attendance will I see the students personalized name (edited name on zoom) or will the university provide me with the student names since they are accessing Zoom from my institution's LMS?

Why is it important to use the waiting room? I found that using it meant that students who were late were stuck outside the class until I let them in. I found that disruptive.

Why is it important to use the waiting room? I found that using it meant that students who were late were stuck outside the class until I let them in. I found that disruptive.

I have a Zoom license from my institution. How do I set up a meeting as host.

I have a Zoom license from my institution. How do I set up a meeting as host.

Meet Our Zoom Expert

Dr. Ron Owston

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