Starting a Zoom Video Conference

Overview

To host synchronous class meetings or office hours, you can use Zoom, one of the Virginia Tech platforms for video conferencing. Everyone at Virginia Tech has a Zoom license that can be used on personal computers, mobile devices, in classrooms, and conference rooms. Plus, Zoom meetings can be recorded and transferred automatically to My Media in Canvas. Faculty and staff can host up to 500 people in their Zoom room and students can host up to 300 people. All meetings have unlimited minutes.

Enable Your Zoom Account

There are a few ways you can access Zoom:

  1. Log in to Virginia Tech Zoom at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/ Links to an external site.. 
    • When you log in to this website, you can sign into your account and configure settings or schedule Zoom meetings. It is recommended that you check out these settings and be sure to enable the features you wish to have enabled.
  2. You can also download Zoom to your computer (the computer you're teaching from).

 

Show the Zoom Tool in Canvas

Video on adding Zoom in Canvas

You can access Zoom in any Canvas course by clicking the Zoom tool in your course navigation.

  1. Go to the Canvas course site and click Settings. 
  2. Click the Navigation tab.  Course tools are sorted into two sections: top (visible to students) and bottom (hidden from students).
  3. Drag the Zoom tool from the bottom to the top section, scroll down, and Save

 

Schedule and Start a Meeting

Video on scheduling a Zoom meeting

You can't hold an instant meeting via Canvas. Instead, schedule a meeting. To hold the scheduled meeting instantly, schedule it for the current time. 

  1. Go to the Canvas course's Zoom tool.
  2. Under Upcoming Meetings, click Schedule a New Meeting.
  3. Set the meeting to start now and end one hour after the class ends.
    • You can end class whenever you want. This is to make sure Zoom doesn't stop the meeting before you're done. 
  4. Uncheck Enable join before host.
  5. Click Schedule.

 

Best Practices

  • Test your microphone and headset when you go into a Zoom session.
  • Try to be in a quiet environment free of distractions.
  • Let students know when they are expected to participate in a Zoom session. This should be explicated in the Course Schedule.
  • Make sure your students have access to Zoom. 
  • Record Zoom sessions and make the recordings available to the course.
  • Provide closed captioning to video recordings to address accessibility.

  

Additional Resources