The world is changing, and today no one can deny it. Quarantine makes the new rules, and one of them is remote studying. However, there are ways to make a new life order easier for students. Zoom app is a great alternative for classes with lots of cool features in it.
This app allows students to do a lot of usual things in a new way:
- attend lectures
- meet with classmates to do a project
- record a lecture and save it to a computer or any other device
Here are some tips for studying online using Zoom.
Upload Zoom on all Your Devices
Make sure you have Zoom uploaded on all your computers, tablets, and smartphones. Internet connection is sometimes an unpredictable thing. Still, you have to be sure you are not late for online classes. That’s why it’s always important to have another option when something goes wrong.
Prepare for a Zoom Meeting Beforehand
Read all Zoom instructions on the official site and learn how to join a meeting. Remember that there is always a unique link for every Zoom room. So it will be perfect if you save the links for all the classes in a document.
Then you can register your account using email, Facebook, or Google. As soon as you are registered, you’ll get your meeting ID and link. Use this link to enter your Zoom room and invite your classmates to it.
P.S. The free Zoom version allows you to host limited 40-minute meetings with up to 100 participants.
Test Your Headphones, Microphone, and Camera
Find a quiet place in your house and test all your gadgets. First of all, open Zoom on your main device and click on “Test Computer Mic & Speakers” in the pop-up window. It always appears when you launch a test meeting.
Now it’s time to check your camera. Make sure you are visible and non-pixellated. It is better to position your camera at eye level. It’s a kind of online etiquette, allowing other participants to see you well. And not ruin their eyes.
Pay attention to the video icon in the lower part of the screen. It has to be active to make everything work.
Discuss the Learned Material with Your Classmates
Enter your Zoom account and press the “Schedule A New Meeting” button. You can choose the date, topic, description, and duration of the meeting. Then save it and copy the link. Send it to your classmates. You can discuss the lecture you all just listened to, your assignments and upcoming tests, or even essay writing services like essayservice.com. If you don’t want any of your friends to enter before you, you can enable the ability to join before the host on the menu.
Engage in a Dialogue Using Zoom Menu
The zoom menu allows students to interact with each other in different ways. First of all, you can mute your mic when you don’t speak. You can also share your screen to demonstrate some cool presentations or show a video to your class.
The chat option can be handy for lectures. If you don’t want to interrupt a teacher, you can write a question in the chat. Zoom has a wonderful “Raise hand” option in this menu as well. Your lecturer will see the hand indicator in the chatroom and answer your question immediately.
The app also allows anyone to record the meeting and save it as a video file to your computer. That’s a great option allowing you to reinforce the knowledge. Moreover, it can be helpful for students who were ill and couldn’t be present at the lecture.
All the recordings are saved in your Zoom account, and you can download them at any time.
Choose the Correct Video Format
Zoom has three video options:
- Speaker View
- Gallery View
- Fullscreen
The Speaker view is the best option for lectures. It focuses only on the speaker. It is also a perfect choice for presentations.
The gallery view shows all the participants on one screen. This video format is great for discussions.
Fullscreen maximizes the screen for the perfect view.
Download the Materials of the Lecture
Your lecturer can upload all the files necessary for the lecture in the chat window. It’s another great option to make studying more accessible. Moreover, students can also upload their tests or essays for the lecturer right after the meeting ends.
Adhere to the Zoom Etiquette
Like we’ve already mentioned before, it’s better to learn the online behavior standards before your studying begins.
So here are some tips on how to adhere to the Zoom etiquette:
- Make sure your video is clear enough.
A great picture is all about contrast. Make sure your face looks brighter than the background. So it will be easy for your classmates to see you.
- Hold your head high.
It shows that you are confident enough in what you say or do. Never try to hide your eyes, look straight into the camera. It will show everybody that you are ready for the dialogue.
- Check if all the distracting things (papers, food, mobile phone) are out of sight.
It is disrespectful to show all your home stuff to your classmates. (especially to a teacher).
- Always keep your mic muted when you don’t speak.
It is a matter of good manners. Moreover, the mic can produce a lot of noise if not muted. The other students will need their ears after the lecture. So make sure you pressed the button in the menu and muted your mic.
- Upload a picture to your profile.
In case you have a problem with the camera, other participants will have something to look at during the meeting.
If you need any additional support, you can always go to Zoom Help Center. Moreover, Harward Law School created an extensive FAQ with lots of answers to different Zoom questions.
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