How to use Zoom

Zoom unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, and group messaging into one easy-to-use platform. Zoom offers the best video, audio, and wireless screen-sharing experience across multiple platforms. MERU has chosen Zoom as the most appropriate and user friendly software to host our online courses and seminars.

To initiate the Zoom client, first we must download the application from their website. It can be helpful to ensure we have the most up to date Zoom client. If ever we are asked to update this we always should, as this can help avoid bugs and potential security risks.

Once Zoom has been downloaded and installed, we can then create an account with Zoom. There is an option to use either our Google or Facebook account to log in, otherwise we can register with our email address and set a password. It can be helpful to have these noted down and kept somewhere safe, as it’s likely we will need them each time we have to log in.

Join a Meeting

Join a meeting by clicking on a Zoom link provided by the meeting host => follow the prompts to download and run Zoom => enter the meeting ID if prompted => click to join the audio conference. When we join or participate in an online course or seminar, the MERU Course Office will provide you with an appropriate zoom link which will be available through the online platform, or from an email. To get to the meeting, we can click on the zoom link, and the client will be activated, taking you to the meeting.

Your Name

Once we are in the meeting it is very important that our name is always showing as the one in which we registered with the MERU Course Office. If not, we won’t be able to identify you, and you may have your access to the course denied until the name is showing correctly.

To change your name click on the “Participants” button. Next, hover your mouse over your name in the “Participants” list on the right side of the Zoom window. Click on “Rename”. Enter your full name as registered with the MERU Course Office.

Mute/Unmute & Audio Settings

You can mute and unmute your microphone. The host also has the ability to mute you. If you click on the arrow next to the mute button, you will have additional options for audio settings. You can change your microphone, leave the computer audio, or access the audio options.

Start/Stop Video & Video Settings

You can turn your camera on or off with the Start/Stop Video button. By clicking on the arrow next to the start/stop video button, you can change webcams, access your Zoom video settings, or select a virtual background (if enabled). You can chose to have your video on or not during the meeting. You are encouraged to have the camera on, so that the speaker can see who they are talking with and build rapport. In this case, you would press the “start video” button.

Chat – Course dependant, the chat window is there to offer participants the chance to ask questions to the speaker. The speaker will let you know if there is a specific time you can ask questions in the chat window. It may be possible to unmute yourself to ask a question verbally at an appropriate time, to do this you would press the “Join audio” button, however this is not always possible in all meetings. For any technical questions, you may write in private to the Event Host.

Choose video layout – At the upper right of the Zoom window, you can switch between active speaker view and gallery view. You can also switch between a shared screen and the video by clicking on a button available in this location during a screen share.

Enter/Exit Full Screen

At the top right of the Zoom window, you can enter or exit full screen mode. You can also exit full screen by clicking Esc.

Pin video

Pin video makes a user the primary speaker for you, instead of switching between the active speaker video. You can pin a video by right-clicking on the video of the person you want to pin or double click on their video window.

If you have any questions during the meeting, MERU Support or the Event Host will be on hand, and you will be able to reach them in the chat box. Otherwise, you can email the course office at courses@meru.international.

For more information on Zoom:

Contact Technical Support https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362003-Zoom-Technical-Support

Zoom Help Center https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us

Getting Started https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697-Getting-Started

Tutorials https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/sections/201740096-Training

Mobile https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/sections/200305413-Mobile