Synchronous Video Lecture via Zoom

Overview

Synchronous video lectures are a good alternative when the class cannot meet face-to-face. It allows you to still meet in real-time in a virtual classroom, share your screen or webcam video, and it can help promote interaction.

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

  1. Log in to Virginia Tech Zoom at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/ Links to an external site.
  2. On the computer you're teaching from, download and install the Zoom Client

 

Show the Zoom Tool in Canvas

Video of Zoom in Canvas

  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 scheduling Zoom in Canvas

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

  • Meet at your regularly scheduled face-to-face session
  • Create a Zoom meeting in advance and share the link with students using a consistent method of communication
  • Add a week-by-week course schedule to your syllabus and be sure to differentiate the different synchronous and asynchronous activities. 
  • Collect everything you need prior to the session: slides, supplemental docs, computer, headphones, microphone, computer charger, etc. 
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Are you in a quiet environment? 
  • Try out the polling feature with a colleague or with your students on the first day of class if you plan on using it in your class.
  • Use the polling feature to check participation.
  • Record all of your sessions and make them available to students to refer back to. This allows students to refer back to the lecture and promotes inclusivity. 
  • Make sure students have access and technology to participate.
  • Ensure students know what materials, or programs to have up and going by the start of the session.
  • Use synchronous Zoom to have lab/ simulations. Students can demonstrate experiments as well as the instructor.
  • Use EquatIO math editing tool to demonstrate complex math problems quickly, or work collaboratively with students using Zoom's whiteboard or annotate features.

 

Additional Resources