Zoom is a Core video conferencing tool for hosting meetings, seminars and lectures online.
Introduction
With a reputation for being one of the most popular video conferencing tools out there, Zoom has some useful features for educators. You’re able to host webinars, easily create breakout groups for more focused discussion and, of course, record sessions for students who can’t make it to a live session.
There’s some helpful guidance from ITS on automatically creating transcripts via Zoom in this document:
Zoom also has a great support centre online, so check out their documentation to get started.
Privacy notice for recording sessions
Please ensure that students are aware that the session will be recorded, and that they have the option to ‘opt out’ and turn off their cameras if they wish. Please also refer students to our privacy notice, which can be found here.
The IGU have highlighted the specific part of this notice that is relevant to the recording of sessions:
As part of our efforts to keep our campuses and other sites safe and secure, enabling us to operate CCTV, body cams and audio and visual recordings of lectures and seminars.
Can I use it?
This tool is marked as Core in the Teaching and Learning Ecosystem document, meaning it’s central to teaching and learning and available to all staff. Login for Core tools is typically via Single Sign on or you can contact the Learning Enhancement Team to find out more.
Firewall Status: Unsafe
This tool appears to be blocked by countries with more restrictive firewalls. Consider using an alternative if you’ll be joined by students learning remotely from outside the UK
Keeping your Zoom meeting secure
To protect against incidents of external users entering or intentionally disrupting your meetings, you can take a few steps to secure your meetings:
- Add a passcode to your meeting.
- Message the meeting link & passcode to users you want to attend rather than post on social media or a public website
- Use the waiting room feature.
- Consider locking the meeting once you start.
- Watch on the ITS Digitial Training Team’s handy ‘Introduction to Zoom’ webinar
You can read more about this topic here:
How to secure your Zoom meetings
What can I do with it?
- Host Breakout Rooms in Zoom
- How to enable live captions in Zoom
- ITS Digitial Training Team’s Zoom Guidance page
- Securing your Zoom meetings
- Editing your transcripts in Zoom
