Join Zoom meetings on time or, preferably, a few minutes early. Being punctual not only helps you avoid missing essential content, it also demonstrates respect for your instructors’ and peers’ time. Many instructors lock their virtual classrooms shortly after the beginning of the session to avoid losing instruction time because of latecomers.

Arriving early provides a time cushion to resolve any contingencies, such as connectivity or password issues. If you are running late, notify your professor or a classmate ahead of time. When taking live classes online, ensure that the videoconferencing window remains visible while taking notes. Using pen and paper or a writing tablet allows participants to dedicate their entire screen to the meeting. Some learners with a dual-monitor setup reserve one display for Zoom and the other for taking notes.

Other learners position the Zoom window to one side of the screen and open a note-taking app on the other side. Many students use keyboard shortcuts to toggle between Zoom and their note-taking app. Some schools allow screen-recording lectures, but learners should ask the instructor’s permission first. In addition to the recommendations listed above, we offer a few general suggestions to help students make a smooth transition to remote learning.

Read on for more tips on managing screen time, using Zoom effectively, and getting the most out of your online class experience. Switching to distance learning means that students now spend more time on their computers. Long periods of screen time often proves both physically and mentally taxing. Researchers link prolonged screen time to a variety of health concerns , including obesity and depression. Being mindful of your screen usage when engaged in lengthy classes alleviates some of the harmful effects of increased screen time.

Taking breaks away from screens helps prevent fatigue, eye strain, and repetitive motion injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that computer users take frequent short breaks to stretch, walk around, or accomplish off-computer tasks. Turning computers off periodically benefits both the machine and the user.

Powering your computer down helps applications run more smoothly. It clears the device’s short-term memory cache, closes background applications, and allows the machine to perform system updates. Turning the computer off at set times also helps users take full advantage of their work periods. Many individuals find that establishing a routine based on proven time management strategies , including blocking out specific times for work, helps them study more productively and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Many schools recommend that students use headphones in Zoom classrooms. Headphones improve incoming sound quality and filter out background noise. Students select from a variety of different styles, including earbud, on-ear, and over-ear types. On-ear and over-ear styles typically provide superior background noise cancellation. Wireless headsets often produce more lag than wired models. Some headsets feature built-in microphones. These pick up less sound from the surrounding environment and generate less feedback than most computers’ internal microphones.

Zoom requires you to enable access to your microphone when joining the meeting. Some students feel self-conscious or distracted when watching themselves speak on camera. If you need to remain visible to your class but prefer not to see yourself, hide your own video feed with Zoom’s “Hide Self View” function.

To use this feature, start in “Gallery View” and right-click on your own video. Explore these resources to help you make informed decisions and prepare for whatever is thrown your way. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Connect with a community of peers, and find a program that will allow you to continue your education in a fast and flexible way. Setting Up for Success Before joining your first Zoom class meeting, set up your classroom space and familiarize yourself with the app. Put Your Computer at Eye Level While lounging in bed or relaxing on the couch often sounds tempting, sitting or standing at a desk during online classes helps maintain focus. For optimal visibility and comfort, position your computer at eye level before logging into class.

Doing so ensures that you can see the screen without neck strain. A stand, box, or stack of books helps elevate the monitor. Avoid joining Zoom classroom calls from your phone. Small phone screens prevent optimal viewing, and frequent notifications create a distraction. Set Up Your Background When setting up a space for attending Zoom meetings, think about your background.

Make Sure the App Works Many students who attend online classes through Zoom benefit from downloading the app and practicing before their first meeting. Double-Check that You Have Any Necessary Passwords To protect students’ privacy and prevent unauthorized users from entering a Zoom meeting, schools and instructors rely on a variety of security measures.

Remember to Mute and Unmute When not talking, remember to mute your microphone to reduce background noise. Pay Attention to the Speaker Whether attending classes online or in person, give your full attention to the speaker. This is especially true temporarily with schools affected by COVID, but it may be a lot more permanent depending on how social distancing guidelines progress. Some schools have decided to teach online class for the rest of , into This begs the question: how do I use Zoom meetings and video conferencing to teach my class?

We have a few helpful tips for teachers and students. Screen sharing is really important for presenting to your class. This button allows you to share your computer screen with everyone on the Zoom meeting.

Rev now offers Zoom live captioning, which means all of your Zoom meetings will have live captions added to the bottom of the screen. Breakout Rooms let you you to split your meeting into multiple sessions, similar to group breakout sessions in a live classroom setting. Students can have their own small groups, which will promote more participation. Read about Zoom Breakout Rooms here.

How to use zoom app for online classes for students

In most cases, your instructor should be recording the session so you can watch it later, but if you can participate, you should try. If a participant shows up as a phone number instead of a name, a host or co-host has the ability to change the name in the participant panel, as does the participant themselves. If you are not comfortable with your full name being displayed, you can change your name to “First Name, Last Initial” by clicking on Rename that appears on your avatar via the participant panel.

If you are unable to reach Brown IT, please contact support. If you are having trouble and your class session has started, you can call the phone number for your meeting, to hear its audio, but mute as needed.

Most of your sessions should be recorded as well. Zoom offers guidelines to Zoom users for ensuring the security of your hosted events. The result is a softer version of your current self, with imperfections smoothed over and minimized.

So, there you have it. Need music to get focused while working from home during the coronavirus crisis? Make a playlist with these streaming services to tune out the world while you work. Empty comment. You seem to be logged out. Refresh your page, login and try again. Sorry, comments are currently closed.

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