Thanks to the digital revolution, smartphones, computers and apps have become essential to the lives of most people on the planet! These days there is an app for everything, and while some are useful and some are useless, one app that has taken the past few years by storm is Zoom.
Whether you are tutoring or learning online, knowing how to use Zoom could change your life!
In this article, we will look at tips for Zoom teaching. So if you are asking, how does Zoom work or if you are searching creating virtual classroom on the internet, keep reading for Zoom tips and tricks to help get you started.
Start by Downloading Zoom
Zoom was hands down the darling of all apps in 2020. Whether it was for chatting with friends, meeting with colleagues, or learning remotely, it became an essential tool to keep people connected and work done. If you want to know how to use Zoom the first thing you will need to do is download it.
Zoom is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac, as well as Android and iOS, operated smartphones.
To run Zoom on your computer, visit the Zoom website, use the download link and run the installer. Next, you will need to either create a free account or sign up for one of the premium plan options.
To download to your smartphone, use either Google Play or the App Store, simply search it and install like any other app.
Once you have your account, you can access the features available for the plan you have chosen like launching a meeting, sharing your screen and much more.
If you’re an online tutor, you’ll be well on your way to ticking creating virtual classroom off of your list.
Start a Meeting on Zoom
Most people want to know how to use Zoom to launch a meeting. Fortunately, this is really easy. Unlike Skype where you first need to add a contact, Zoom uses links to bring meeting participants together.
To start, click on the “New Meeting” button and choose a time and date to schedule your meeting. Then, copy and paste the invitation and email it to your invitees. At the appointed time, you as the host can start the meeting.
For extra security and to prevent unwanted users crashing or ‘Zoombombing’ your private meeting, you can also set up a password which is one of those Zoom tips and tricks for keeping you safe online.
Zoombombing occurs when malicious users admit themselves to Zoom meetings to broadcast illicit content. Sadly, this has been a regular occurrence for Zoom online teaching during periods of pandemic lockdowns.
Fortunately, using passwords to protect meetings has reduced this problem. As the host, you can activate this option which is advisable if you are teaching children.
Find out about the costs for Zoom online teaching.
Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts
Here are a few tips for Zoom teaching that uses keyboard shortcuts to help make your tutorials even simpler!
- Alt+M (Cmd+M if using Mac): Mutes and unmutes all participants.
- Alt+V: Turns the video on and off.
- Alt+S: Starts or stops screen sharing.
- Alt+R: Starts or stops a recording.
- Alt+F: Fullscreen on and off.
- Alt+Q: Ends the meeting.
- Alt+L: Swaps between portrait and landscape.
- Alt+Shift+T: Takes a screenshot.
These keyboard shortcuts can help you to quickly access many of Zoom's functions and are essential to memorise if you’re asking, how does Zoom work? One of the handy Zoom tips and tricks to know is that you can change these shortcuts if you don’t like them.
Save Lessons on Zoom
This feature is not available on the free plan, but with the paid plans, it is very useful to be able to record your meetings for students to go back on parts of the lesson, or for you to review your lesson style and content. As the host, your students will first need your permission to save the meeting.
Go to your settings and either choose to save your lessons as an MP4 video or to the cloud.
If saved to the cloud, you can access any of the audio, video or text chats that you would like as well as a transcription if you are on certain paid plans. For the sake of transparency, let each participant know that you are recording your session. In addition, many people can record a session at once as well as pause and unpause meetings.
One of those lesser-known Zoom tips and tricks is that smartphone users can still record a meeting which will automatically be saved to the cloud.
But how will you find your saved Zoom videos?
Log into the Zoom website and navigate to Account Management and then Recording Management.
Make sure that your students are aware that they have to ask permission to record your sessions and by doing so you will be creating virtual classroom etiquette!
Advice and Tips for Zoom Teaching
There are a number of Zoom features to help you make the most of your online tutorials.
Use Two Windows
Both you, as the tutor, and student can benefit from using one window to see each other and the other for the lesson content. If you have two screens, you could put one on each.
Muting Mics
Muting mics is especially useful in group classes so that you can hear without the distraction of background noise. Simply unmute students if they would like to speak up or contribute to the lesson.
This is another one of those Zoom tips and tricks that is also essential to creating virtual classroom etiquette as it will alleviate the disruptions and distractions that noise can bring.
Use the HD Quality Setting
Because HD video uses so much bandwidth, Zoom will not automatically select the highest video quality. Having said this, HD can improve the Zoom experience for both students and the tutor, simply select the HD option in settings for the best image quality.
You may find that your computer or internet connection cannot support HD video. If this is the case, switch back to SD.
Create a Waiting Room
Creating a waiting room before the lesson starts is another one of those tips for Zoom teaching to be aware of. Not only will it help you to know who has arrived, but also help you to make sure that there are not any intruders.
Virtual Backgrounds
So how does Zoom work if you don’t want your students to see the pile of laundry or dishes behind you? The answer is to use one of the platform’s virtual backgrounds to help you create an impersonal or professional background.
All of these features are guaranteed to improve your Zoom online teaching. There are also a few other features like video enhancements for instance, but these are some of the best tips for Zoom teaching for online tutors.
If you’re still wondering how to use Zoom, you could find a private tutor to show you all the Zoom tips and tricks you will need for excellent tutoring.
Whether you are looking for a tutor or want to become a Superprof tutor there are options available.
For students, there are thousands of experienced and qualified tutors who teach on every subject imaginable. For those who are keen to learn online, there is even the option of finding tutors who are physically based in other parts of the world!
There are three main options when it comes to private tuition: in-person, group or online lessons. Each one of these is characterised by its own unique pros and cons which will ultimately depend on your personal goals, budget and even, personality.
Private, face-to-face tutoring is understandably the most effective version especially because lessons are tailored to the specific needs of the student. In many cases, the tutor travels to the student’s home making it very convenient for the student, but also more expensive.
From the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoom and online tutoring have saved the day for students, businesses and teachers all over the world. Using an app like Zoom for online tutoring has also unlocked far more private tuition opportunities to make it more available and affordable for everyone.
For budget-conscious students, group tutorials are an excellent solution and thanks to Zoom these are also more accessible than ever.
Remember to choose a tutor who has been recommended or endorsed by a reputable organisation. Doing this can save you from much disappointment and wasted time.
Of course, finding a tutor through a random internet search is also possible, however, when you head to Superprof you will have the peace of mind in knowing that the credentials of all tutors are verified.
Finally, if you use Superprof you could also benefit from a free introductory lesson. This is an excellent way to ensure a good personality fit between you and your tutor.
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