Getting Started with Zoom
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Zoom is a video conferencing app. It allows folks to see and hear each other as a group, using either a smart-phone, tablet, or computer (the device needs both a camera and a microphone).
A Zoom session always has one ‘host’, who starts the session, and then he/she ‘invites’ any number of others to be ‘guests’.
If this is the first time you are a host (and have not previously downloaded the app) then you will use your browser (Safari, Chrome, etc) and go to: zoom.us Over on the upper right put your mouse on ‘host a meeting’ scroll down to ‘with video on’, and click. (If you are using a smartphone or tablet go to the Apple or Google store to download the app.)
(If you already have the Zoom app on your device just click on ‘open zoom’. Otherwise click on ‘download and run Zoom’.)
If you haven’t previously opened zoom as a host you will be required to create an account. You will create the free basic level account. Enter your email address and a password you will remember (write down somewhere!)
Then the Zoom screen should pop open with the camera on your device showing a lovely image of you.
At the upper left corner of screen is a Meeting ID – a 9 digit number. One way of inviting guests to join is to send them that 9 digit number (by email or phone, eg). They then use their browser to go to zoom.us and click on ‘join a meeting’ and put in that meeting number.
But there is another option: At the bottom of the Zoom screen are some icons. One is ‘Invite’ – click on this and choose your default email service (eg gmail, outlook, etc). Then you can add people from your email contacts to the invite list. So, for this to work, your guests have to already be in your email contact list.
This will send a formatted email to the guest who then opens your email and simply clicks on the ‘link’ that’s in the email. Very nifty – so, over time you want to make sure that folks you want to invite to a session are already in your email contact list.
The basic (free) level of zoom allows a maximum of 40 minutes for a session and up to 100 guests. The paid level is $15/month and gives unlimited time.
Note the other icons on the zoom screen: in the lower left are icons for audio and video. If your device has more than one mic or camera, you can select the ones you want to use. In the upper right you can choose between ‘presenter view’ or ‘gallery view’. In gallery view every participant has an equal space on your screen.
A Zoom session always has one ‘host’, who starts the session, and then he/she ‘invites’ any number of others to be ‘guests’.
If this is the first time you are a host (and have not previously downloaded the app) then you will use your browser (Safari, Chrome, etc) and go to: zoom.us Over on the upper right put your mouse on ‘host a meeting’ scroll down to ‘with video on’, and click. (If you are using a smartphone or tablet go to the Apple or Google store to download the app.)
(If you already have the Zoom app on your device just click on ‘open zoom’. Otherwise click on ‘download and run Zoom’.)
If you haven’t previously opened zoom as a host you will be required to create an account. You will create the free basic level account. Enter your email address and a password you will remember (write down somewhere!)
Then the Zoom screen should pop open with the camera on your device showing a lovely image of you.
At the upper left corner of screen is a Meeting ID – a 9 digit number. One way of inviting guests to join is to send them that 9 digit number (by email or phone, eg). They then use their browser to go to zoom.us and click on ‘join a meeting’ and put in that meeting number.
But there is another option: At the bottom of the Zoom screen are some icons. One is ‘Invite’ – click on this and choose your default email service (eg gmail, outlook, etc). Then you can add people from your email contacts to the invite list. So, for this to work, your guests have to already be in your email contact list.
This will send a formatted email to the guest who then opens your email and simply clicks on the ‘link’ that’s in the email. Very nifty – so, over time you want to make sure that folks you want to invite to a session are already in your email contact list.
The basic (free) level of zoom allows a maximum of 40 minutes for a session and up to 100 guests. The paid level is $15/month and gives unlimited time.
Note the other icons on the zoom screen: in the lower left are icons for audio and video. If your device has more than one mic or camera, you can select the ones you want to use. In the upper right you can choose between ‘presenter view’ or ‘gallery view’. In gallery view every participant has an equal space on your screen.