Using Zoom for Teaching London Computing events

You do not need to download anything to use Zoom and can dismiss (or move out of the way) any pop up windows asking you if you want to download software, and instead simply join online. Zoom works on phones, tablets and computers / laptops but if using a phone you may want to put a thumb or plaster over the camera as it seems to default to ON.

1. Join a Test Meeting

You can test settings (eg microphone / speakers) and familiarise yourself with the layout by joining a test room (you’ll be the only participant) here https://zoom.us/test – the examples below are screenshots from a Macbook laptop.

Clicking Join will display a page and there may be a pop-up inviting you to download software – close the pop-up.

The correct link to click is “join from your browser” which is the last line in the text above (hidden by the ‘Launch Application’ on a Mac computer, may look different on a Windows computer or phone / tablet etc).

If it tells you that your browser doesn’t support audio you can ignore it and just use the chat window or email Jo if you want to communicate, or you can update your browser.

2. Testing Audio and troubleshooting

The most important thing is that you can hear the presenter.

Zoom desktop app

Next to the small microphone icon at the bottom left there’s an up arrow which launches a menu that lets you select a microphone or speaker and test them (highlighted with a blue bar) or change your audio settings (blue arrow).

More on Testing Audio for different platforms.

You can toggle Mute / Unmute when you want to talk. These icons control your inbuilt microphone and if you leave it unmuted or ON then your voice (and any other background noises) are audible.

3. Using the chat panel

The Chat icon will open up a little side bar on the right and you can see everyone else’s text-based contributions. Type something and press enter to send to the room, or email me if you have a question (I can ask on your behalf and won’t say who the question has come from). You can also send a private message to someone else by clicking on the blue ‘Everyone’ and selecting their name.

4. How to raise your hand during a meeting

Zoom desktop app
Click on the Participants icon at the bottom, a small panel will appear on the right (if you have chat open it’ll appear above that). Find your name in the list and click on it, the option to Raise Hand will appear at the bottom of the names list (just above chat).

Zoom via desktop browser
The ‘Raise hand’ icon is at the bottom of the page.

More platforms / apps instructions.