Interested in HCC Zoom Meetings?
Please read this page first, or go directly to the Calendar!
Zoom is easy to use. Our Zoom classes are open to the public. Simply click on a Zoom Class title on the Calendar and then click on the link that reads “Join Zoom Meeting”
Zoom Etiquette & Tips
Only one person talks at a time.
Avoid side conversations, shuffling paper, tapping pens, non-essential noise of any kind. This can be picked up very easily on microphones and make it hard for the remote locations to hear the main conversation.
Show that you are listening to others at the remote site by nodding your head and looking at the screen.
Direct questions or comments to a particular person, by stating their name to gain their attention.
The host has the power to “Mute All”. This usually is not used unless side conversations get out of hand, or if there is background noise. If you are muted, you can unmute yourself when you need to.
Use the hand raise command to be noticed and wait until you are called.
Be aware of your audio and video settings.
Don’t sit directly in front or beside a bright light source, or else all the audience sees is a bright light and a shadowy figure. Experiment with moving lamps and your camera until you can see your brightly-lit face on the screen.
Try to provide a nice, plain background. If your treadmill is in your office and you use it more as a place to hang laundry, that’s not really the best visual for your audience. You can’t control everything in a mobile environment, but you should give some thought to background prior to your meeting.
Mute yourself when listening to a presenter.
Always remember that everyone can see you. Someone is watching as you take a big, wide-mouth yawn, stretch, or wander around the room. These exaggerated movements are distracting to the audience and can be disruptive to the speaker. Try to stay still and be attentive – or at least act attentive!
Mute your Microphone
To help keep background noise to a minimum, make sure you mute your microphone when you are not speaking.
Be mindful of background noise
When your microphone is not muted, avoid activities that could create additional noise
Limit distractions
You can make it easier to focus on the meeting by turning off notifications, closing or minimizing running apps, and muting your smartphone.
Position your camera properly
If you choose to use a web camera, be sure it is in a stable position and focused at eye level, if possible. Doing so helps create a more direct sense of engagement with other participants.
Avoid multi-tasking
You’ll retain the discussion better if you refrain from replying to emails or text messages during the meeting and wait to work on that PowerPoint presentation until after the meeting ends.
Prepare materials in advance
If you will be sharing content during the meeting, make sure you have the files and/or links ready to go before the meeting begins.
The Mute Button and the Chat Window are Your Friends
Another annoying default feature of video chats is the way they’re designed to switch to a given video feed any time sound comes from it. This makes sense in terms of conversation, but it also means that any sound at all —a closing door, a barking dog, a howling child — can switch the main screen or drown out someone else’s audio. (The former isn’t a problem on Zoom’s gallery view; the latter is a problem everywhere, always.)
Until AI gets smart enough to recognize that these sounds are not the same as humans talking and block them out automatically, there’s only one rule of etiquette that makes sense: Mute yourself by default. Then, when you really have something to say to the whole group, unmute yourself. To be extra polite, raise your hand before talking.
Consider the Zoom chat window as a whole other, more subtle tier of conversation. Everyone will see its dialog boxes pop up, so you won’t be ignored if you type there. Questions such as “wait, what did they just say about X?” are best handled here, so they don’t break the flow. Hosts could designate helpers to watch the chat window for important questions or points of order.
You can also chat privately with anyone in the meeting — the Zoom equivalent of going into the kitchen for a quiet word.
For more on Zoom, click here.
Generic Video Conferencing Help
Audio & Video Setup
Classes & Meetings
Set Up, Host & Join a Meeting on iPhone & iPad
How to Look Good on Video for Zoom