Mile High Polymer Clay Guild

Creating with Polymer Clay

Tips for Using Zoom in Our Meetings & Workshops

A guide to some basic features in Zoom. These are features commonly referenced in a Zoom meeting, but some are not easy to find, especially as the features available and how they are accessed will vary based on device type.

BEST PRACTICES
  • To keep the meeting on track and reduce distracting background noise, participants are muted while the Presenter is speaking and demonstrating. 
  • Though it is up to the host or presenter, the recommendation is for participants to post questions in the Chat or to Raise Hand. The meeting moderator then reads the question or calls on the person with the raised hand.
  • Check the name on your video screen. You may want to Rename it to something more relevant to the meeting or workshop. For example, make sure it is your name, and you might want to add your location if participants are from many places.

GENERAL HELP


UPDATE
  • strongly recommend you use the latest version of Zoom
  • Hopefully updates are occurring automatically or you are being prompted automatically, but if not:
PCs/Macs
  • Launch Zoom but before joining meeting go to top right of Zoom window and click on icon with your account initials or photo. Menu should open. Look for Check for Updates and click on that. Follow instructions.
Phones/Tablets
  • Use usual update tool to update apps, e.g. App Store on iPhone and check if Zoom is in update list. Or launch Zoom to see if you get an update notification.


RENAME
PCs/Macs:
  • Open Participants window, find your name and click on More. Click on Rename and type changes to your displayed name.
  • Hover your mouse pointer on your video in the meeting window to get three dots. Click to get additional options and click on Rename and type changes to your displayed name.
Phones/Tablets:
  • Open Participants window, find and tap on your name. Tap on Rename and type changes to your displayed name.

CHAT
  • If you don't see chat notifications you may have chat muted. Open Chat window and look for bell icon. Make sure there is not a line through it.
  • When you select Chat to type a message make sure you have the correct "To:" selected, e.g. Everyone or a specific person.
  • Chat History starts from when you enter the meeting and disappears when you leave a meeting. If you want to save the Chat make sure you do it before you exit. If you missed earlier portions or cannot save chat you may be able to get a copy from the host or another participant.
PCs/Macs:
  • At bottom of Zoom window, near center, click on Chat.
  • if Chat is at right side of Zoom window, you can make a separate popout window. At top left of Chat view click on down area and choose pop-out window.
  • If Chat is a popout and you want to attach it to the right side  of the Zoom window, click on 3 Dots in lower right and click on Merge to Meeting Window.
Phones/Tablets
  • under More (3 dots) to view Chat
To SAVE CHAT (Computers Only) : Open Chat window and
  • click on file icon (looks like sheet of paper with folded corner) and select place to save chat file. Use new filename every time you save unless you want to overwrite the previous save
  • click on 3 Dots and select Save Chat. This will automatically save to a folder for this meeting in your Zoom folder which is usually in your Documents folder. Note that this automatically overwrites the previous saved chat for this meeting, a possible problem if you leave then return to the meeting. 

SCREEN VIEWS
On PCs/Macs
  • top right of Zoom window click on View and get options for Speaker or gallery view.
  • Click on up arrow next to Start/Stop Video to see options that control which camera (if you have more than one connected to your computer) or video settings such as Blur or Background
On Tablets
  • to switch between speaker and gallery views tap on icon in upper left, under Leave button.
  • during screen share can tap small view to enlarge, i.e. tap to swap between speaker window or their screen share
  • to switch between speaker and gallery views
  • when you start your video you will have the option to Switch Camera in top left (if your device has a front and back camera)
On Phones
  • to switch between speaker and gallery views need to swipe - right to to get back to speaker view, left to see gallery views
  • during screen share can tap small view to enlarge, i.e. tap to swap between speaker window or their screen share
  • to pin a speaker double-tap on their video window to get option to Pin.
  • when you start your video you will have the option to Switch Camera in top left (if your device has a front and back camera)



RAISE HAND
  • The meeting host settings determine if you see only Raise Hand or other reaction options as well.
On PCs/Macs
  • either Raise Hand or Reactions will display at bottom of Zoom window. If you have Ractions, click on it to see Raise Hand (and assorted other non-verbal reaction emoticons).
On Phones/Tablets:
  • tap on More and you should have Raise Hand as one of the options

BREAKOUT ROOMS
On PCs/Macs:
  • breakout room option appears at bottom of screen. Click to get a list of rooms from which to choose and click Join.
On Phones/Tablets:
  • breakout room is circle on screen (may need to tap screen to see that feature.) Tap breakout room circle to get list of rooms. Tap room to join.



SETTINGS
On PCs/Macs
  • before joining meeting, at top right of Zoom window click on icon with your account initials. Menu should open, look for Settings and click on that.
On Phones/Tablets
  • before joining a meeting, see flower shaped icon in top or bottom left corner.

AUDIO
To disconnect audio (usually to prevent feedback if using two cameras for your presentation)
PCs/Mac
  • click on up arrow next to Mute/Unmute microphone. Click on Leave Computer Audio. 
  • click on Join Audio to reconnect
Tablets/Phones
  • tap on 3 Dots/More to get hidden options. Tap on Disconnect Audio.
  • tap on Join Audio to reconnect
For audio settings
PCs/Mac
  • Click on up arrow next to Mute/Unmute to see options that control audio settings such as which microphone and speaker to use.
  • You also have the ability to increase Speaker volume output under Audio Settings.


SHARE SCREEN
Zoom Support:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360061383571-Showing-Zoom-windows-during-screen-share
  • Make sure you close any windows not related to your presentation before sharing to avoid showing anything you don't want shared.
  • If you are showing a video make sure you check the "Share sound" and "Optimize for video clip" options before you click Share.
  • Host has to enable Sharing feature for participants
PCs/Mac
  • click on share Screen at bottom of Zoom window then choose which open window to share
  • if playing a video you may need to use Advanced options (tab at top of share window) and click on Video to launch video from there.
Tablets/Phones
  • tap on Share Content at top then choose which app to share