Zoom

Zoom Help Guides

What is Zoom?
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, conference, huddle, and training rooms, as well as executive offices and classrooms.

Guide: ISU Zoom Quickstart
Guide: Zoom Recommended Settings

When would I want to use Zoom?
Zoom is a great tool for a virtual environment when you want to host a live speaking engagement such as scheduled class time, labs, and review sessions. Zoom gives the instructor and the students the same advantages that a live in-person class has but in a virtual environment. Students can ask questions and engage with the instructor, the instructor can share their screen for demonstrations or presentations, and the students have to join at a specific date and time just as they would for an in-person classroom setting.

Can students ask questions when using Zoom?
Yes, since Zoom is a live conferencing system, students have the ability to ask questions to the instructor in two different ways. The instructor has the ability to mute or unmute students throughout the conference call, and students also have the same capability. If a student has a question, Zoom has a “Raise Your Hand” feature where the instructor can see who is raising their hand with a question, and they can unmute them to ask a question or revoke their right to speak. Students can also engage in asking questions using the chat function in which they can ask the whole class a question or ask just the instructor. The instructor can then monitor the chat dialog to see what questions students have.

Guide: Raising Your Hand in a Zoom Call
Guide: Using the Zoom Chat Feature

Can I share my screen when using Zoom?
Yes, when presenting via Zoom, the instructor can share their screen. The instructor has the capability to share anything that they do on their computer such as their PowerPoint, Canvas course, virtual microscopy slides, etc. just as they would on a projector in the classroom.

Guide: How to Share My Zoom Screen
Video: How to Share My Zoom Screen

Can students work in groups using Zoom?
Yes, students can be put into groups called breakout rooms. Groups for Zoom breakout rooms can be preassigned before the Zoom session, or they can be done during the Zoom call. Breakout rooms allow the instructor to address the class as a whole during a Zoom session, and then separate Zoom rooms are formed so only students in a specific group are in a Zoom call together. The instructor can enter any breakout room to talk to individual groups as the need. Once the groups are done working, the instructor can then bring the students out of the breakout rooms and into the whole class Zoom session.

Video: Intro to Zoom Breakout Rooms
Guide: Intro to Zoom Breakout Rooms
Guide: Pre-Assign Participants to Breakout Room

Who do I contact at ISU Vet Med if I want to use Zoom for my online course?
A Zoom pro account is needed to teach live via Zoom. To obtain a Zoom pro account and to get started with Zoom for your course, please contact cvmavhelp@iastate.edu to get started.