How to Zoom Like a Pro

This article comes to STUG through STUG’s membership in APCUG, the International Association of Technology and Computer User Groups.

First, check that you have the latest Zoom version at www.zoom.us/download. Join a meeting by clicking on the unique link your group has sent you.

Settling in

Check your audio and video

Move your mouse to the bottom left of your monitor/screen to activate the Zoom Toolbar. You will see the icon for the audio (mic) and video (camera). Click the caret (^) beside either icon and make sure the correct devices are selected. You can also select “Test speaker & microphone” in Windows or go to audio settings in Linux.

Need to change your name? “BooBoo” might be perfect for your family Zoom, but if you’d rather not share that nickname with the world, You can adjust what participants in the current meeting see. Move your mouse to the top-right corner of your tile, then click the three dots or right-click on the box. From the menu, select “Rename,” enter your correct name, and then click “Change.” Now, you are ready to sit back and enjoy the Workshop. You can also click on the “Participants” icon, find your name, click the three dots, and select “Rename.”

During the Meeting

Hear. How well you “hear” what’s being said is under your control. You adjust the volume either in Zoom’s audio settings (caret (^) next to the mic) or in your device’s volume settings. It has been noticed that, at times, the volume on your device may not be accurately reflected in Zoom. Therefore, you will need to adjust Zoom’s audio settings.

See. What you “see” during the Workshop is also under your control. Your first adjustment is how you see the main screen. In the top right corner, you will have a “tic-tac-toe” button. You have a number of choices, including: “Speaker” (where you see the person speaking in a big window and other attendees in a filmstrip) and “Gallery” (where you see attendees in rows—Hollywood Squares). We recommend the Speaker view, as you are here to see the presenter. The “Gallery” view may have additional screens, depending on the number of attendees and the number of tiles your device can display simultaneously. You can also view the meeting in “Fullscreen” mode.

View. When the presenters are sharing their screens, you have a second set of “viewing” controls. Move your mouse to the top-left center of your screen, where you should see a tab labeled “Presenter’s screen” with a circle and three dots. There, you can select the “Zoom ratio” and make it easier to see if your screen is too small. You can also remove the attendee’s filmstrip by checking “Hide video panel.”

Open Mic. If there is an “Open Mic Q&A” and you want to ask a question or share a comment, click the raised-hand icon on the Zoom taskbar. If you don’t see it, check under “More” or under the “React” icon. This puts you at the top of the attendees list and lets the leader know you want to speak. When it’s your turn, you will see “Please unmute your mic.” Please click your “Audio icon” (the mic) and unmute yourself, and then you can speak.

APCUG hopes that these instructions and reminders will help make your participation in any workshop or presentation a pleasant experience.

Thanks to John Kennedy of APCUG