11 Using Zoom for Large Class Sizes

Zoom allows you to have a virtual classroom directly from your laptop or computer. When you or a student access a zoom link for the first time, if zoom is not already installed on the device, it will prompt you to download and install Zoom software. Zoom offers several features to aid with teaching.  Below are highlights used in previous LIVE-streamed courses.  If this is the first time teaching using Zoom, it is best to keep it simple!

Host Considerations

• Instructors should use a good quality headset and microphone. This will help students hear you more clearly and not be distracted by background noise.
• Choose a suitable location with appropriate lighting. Use virtual backgrounds if needed.
• Ensure you have a stable internet connection. Consider using a hard-wired connection instead of relying on wi-fi which can drop and become unstable.
• Remember to be mindful of copyright guidelines , student privacy issues, and while using zoom.

zoom Meeting Controls

Zoom has some main features located at the bottom of a zoom room [on a PC]. Note these same features could be in different locations depending on the device you are using.

Below is a brief description of each.

• Mute/Unmute. This setting is for audio.  Encourage students to stay on mute when not speaking.
  • • Mute small arrow. If you or a student is having trouble with sound.  Use the ‘Test Speaker and Microphone’ option located by selecting the small arrow beside this icon. It is possible to connect by phone, but long-distance charges will apply.
• Start/Stop Video. This setting is for visual.  The instructor and teaching assistant video should remain on, while the student video should be turned off.  This is recommended for large class sizes as a way to combat unstable connections and lagging when participants are speaking.
  • • Video small arrow.  ‘Choose Virtual Background…’ is located in this area.  There are University of Regina backgrounds which instructors are encouraged to use. [see key resources for link U of R backgrounds]
• Security. This icon allows you to take control of the room and prevent unwanted participation.  Options include: locking the meeting, usage of screen sharing, chat and other settings.
• Participants. Show a small number indicating how many are in the room.  When chosen, instructors will have a participant side pane visible with a list of  students.  This will give you a quick access to who is in the room and if they have audio and video capability. This area also includes icons that can be used by students. Examples are: yes, no, go slower, go faster, dislike, like, clap, need a break, etc.
  • • Participants arrow.  Select this to obtain an ‘Invite’ link to send to a class guest speaker.
• Polls.  Polls can be created by going to the zoom.us website and logging in.  Once the poll is created in your account, polls are then called upon during the zoom meeting [see key resources for instruction link and video].
• Chat.  This is an valuable tool to gage what students are thinking and feeling in the class.  This chat area should be moderated by a teaching assistant so that you can focus on teaching.  Please meet to discuss this role with your teaching assistant (TA).  Come up with specific procedures and expectations for handling student questions that arise in this chat area.  To allow time for instructors to co-ordinate with TAs, the UR LIVE administrative support person will attend your first class.  
• Share Screen.  Although this feature is open to both instructor and student, for large LIVE-streamed courses it will mostly be utilized by the instructor.   This is the option to choose to share a PowerPoint presentation or other types of media [see key resources for instruction video].
• Record.  Instructor may choose to record the lecture portion of the LIVE-streamed course.
• Breakout Rooms.  Although breakout rooms very useful, this feature would be difficult to use in large, lecture style classes.  It is not recommend for LIVE-streamed courses. Alternatively, to assist with large class room discussion, UR Courses forums can be created with smaller groups and used for student-to-student interaction.
• Reactions. These are handy to communicate with students.  They are standard visual icons that appear beside the students name and include: wave, thumbs up, heart, joy, open mouth, and tada.
• More. This icon is represented by three dots and the menu changes depending on your device.
• End. Allows you to ‘Leave Meeting’ or ‘End Meeting for All’.