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Web conferencing is a means for groups of various sizes to hold gatherings via the Internet. They generally offer a combination of text chatting, video chatting, and verbal communication. Web conferencing is a great option for collaboration when participants are unable to be in the same space for whatever reason.
Zoom
How to create a Zoom Meeting
How to join an existing Zoom Meeting
Plans and Pricing
Zoom: A cheat sheet about the video conferencing solution
How to use Zoom to stay connected during Coronavirus (aarp.org)
How to use Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Read instructions for joining and hosting meetings, muting, chatting, screen sharing and more to help if you're unsure or intimidated about using any video conferencing platform like Zoom.
Zoom etiquette
- Keep yourself muted unless you are speaking. This will help minimize distracting background noise.
- If you think that anything around you or in your background could be distracting to others, it's a good idea to keep your camera feed off.
- If anonymity is NOT a concern, make sure that the display name is your own name. Sometimes, depending on your device or your account, your display name might just say the device you are using. Hosts can change others' display names, but individual participants may only change their own. To change your display name
- click "Participants" in the menu on the bottom of the screen, between "Security" and "Chat."
- hover over your display name, which should be at the top of the Participants panel with the word "me" in parentheses. There should be a blue dropdown menu that says "More."
- Click "More" and choose rename. Type in your name and click "Rename."
- For more on Zoom Etiquette, visit: https://galecia.com/blogs/lori-ayre/zoom-tips-libraries
Zoom features
- If you do not have the capability to join a Zoom meeting via computer or mobile application, you may have the option to participate by calling. If the Zoom invitation you received as a section that says "Dial by your location," call the number labeled with the city that is closest to your location at the time of the meeting. You will still need the access code and password.
- You can see the list of participants in the meeting by clicking "Participants" in the menu on the bottom of your screen, between "Security" and "Chat." The Participants panel will show up on the right side of your screen.
- There is a chat feature in Zoom which can be helpful if you have a quick question or comment but don't want to interrupt whoever is speaking. This feature is also great for providing links. You can choose to direct your message to all participants (the default setting), or you can choose to send your message to a specific person. To open the chat window, choose "Chat" in the bottom menu, between "Participants" and "Share Screen."
- If you want to show your appreciation or agreement with something someone said, you can use a reaction. The "Reaction" feature is the rightmost option in the bottom menu. You can choose between two emojis: applause and thumbs up.
Other Web Conferencing Platforms
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