Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Tech Talk Zoom- Web Conferencing Solution that Enhances Teaching, Learning, Productivity


What on Earth is Zoom good for…..
  • How about inviting an outside expert to share with your class?
  • Maybe keep a student engaged while she recovers from an illness at home.
  • Participate in a field trip without leaving your classroom?
  • Teach your class while at a remote site?
  • Your students presenting to a conference without having to absorb the costs of travel?
  • Recording the conversation to share with others?

We will cover the basics of:
  • what is Zoom
  • how to get an account
  • what is needed for a meeting
  • getting started with Zoom
  • features of Zoom
  • best practices for participating in a meeting
  • Resources


What is Zoom?
  • webconferencing app
  • works via Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, telephone
  • up to 50 connections in a meeting
  • free or Pro


How do I get an account?
  • contact me for Pro account
    • might have to share with others in dept
  • http://zoom.us
  • free personal account- 40 minutes time limit


What is needed for a meeting?
  • computer, iOS device, Android device, phone
  • high speed internet connection
  • microphone
  • speaker
  • webcam
  • Zoom app installed


Getting Started with Zoom
  • Schedule a meeting
  • Join a meeting
  • Administer a meeting
    • start
    • stop
    • invite more
    • share desktop
    • record session
    • leave or end meeting

Features of Zoom
  • sharing 
  • annotating
  • recording
  • chat
  • remote control

Best Practices
  • KISS
  • practice, practice, and then some more
  • test on exact equipment 
  • it’s under control- Zoom settings
  • It’s all about the sound (and physics)
    • meet in quiet place
    • use mute button when necessary
    • sit close to mic, speaker
    • if more people are in the room, might need more mics, better speakers


Resources
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Thanks to all who attended yesterday’s tech talk on Zoom. 

We had a great group with inquiring and receptive minds.

I venture to say the 30-45 minutes you invested yesterday, will have a payback of at least 2-4 times that or more (savings in travel time alone)


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Takeaways:
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- Zoom is useful in teaching, learning, productivity efficiencies
- help get us started
- we need practice- check out the resources below and contact me when you are ready for practice sessions


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Getting Started
===============

This resource covers the process: 

- contact me at bhuddleson@scciowa.edu for a Pro account
Pro accounts allow unlimited length meetings.
Free account offers 40 minute meetings.

*** Note: SCC has Pro licenses that can be shared within departments
A Zoom account is needed to host/schedule meetings.
To join a meeting, no account is needed.

- download and install Zoom software starting at this link: https://zoom.us/support/download


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Practice
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The more comfortable and confident we feel in using a tool, the more likely we are to use it.
Accordingly, we talked about doing some ad-hoc practice sessions.

After you have your Zoom account and Zoom installed on your computer, contact me, and we will practice (yes- Allen Iverson- PRACTICE).

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Next Tech Talk
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The Tech Talk series:
- cover topics for enhancing teaching, learning, and productivity
- last about 30 minutes

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