Zoom
Zoom continues to be a useful tool for hosting guest speakers, broadcasting events, and arranging discussions in an online format, but it may require some set up to work properly.
Guest speakers
If you are using Zoom to bring an outside speaker to the classroom, make sure that the speaker has the ability to present their material. If they need to share their screen or have control over their own presentation, make sure that they have co-host status on the call; it's also possible to allow all participants to share their screens by enabling that function in the settings.
Broadcasting events
If you are using Zoom to broadcast a campus event with a larger audience, you should set up a password for the Zoom link or assign someone to admit and monitor attendees. Taking these precautions will help to prevent vandalism and allow for quick technical support in the event of a major connection error.
Breakout rooms
Breakout rooms have become a standard way to engage audiences and vary the tone of a presentation, but they do require initial set up beforehand. Make sure that Breakout rooms are enabled in account settings before the call begins. It's possible to set up groups for the breakout rooms beforehand if you have the email addresses of attendees, but in practice it is often necessary to manually adjust the groups during the session.