Following are some recommended guidelines for participants in online Zoom meetings:
- If you have not used Zoom before.
Download the Zoom app or check out zoom.us prior to the day of the meeting to familiarize yourself with any features you may need to use during the meeting sessions.
- Limit distractions.
Find a quiet place to meet, silence personal devices, avoid multi-tasking and side conversations. Commit to the meeting and stay focused.
- More light is better.
Position yourself so that most of the light is coming from in front of you (behind the monitor). An extra lamp nearby is usually helpful. Avoid backlight from bright lights or windows. Being backlit makes you harder to see.
- Stage your video area.
If possible, have a plain background. Keep in mind that people are not just seeing you; they are also seeing whatever the camera is pointed at behind you.
- Your Zoom links will be sent to you for each day the day before. Please keep track of your links for each day and plan to log on 10 minutes early.
Do your own tech support before the session starts. Be aware of your audio and video settings and test them. Zoom has a feature that lets you test your settings before the session starts: Just go zoom.us/test. Then (for many of our sessions) enjoy music from Daniel Nahmod before the session starts!
- Address internet disruptions.
Due to increased residential bandwidth these days, you may experience buffering or skipping. If this occurs, perhaps consider using the computer to access video, while simultaneously dialing in by phone for audio.
- Position your camera properly; and try to look into the camera.
If you choose to use a web camera, be sure it is in a stable position and focused at eye level, if possible. Position yourself so the camera is seeing you from the chest up, instead of just seeing your face. This is more natural for the viewer.
- Practice speaking to the camera.
Instead of looking at yourself or others on the screen, speak to the camera. This gives the audience a sense that you are talking directly to them. Use the video option when it is enabled by the Zoom monitors.
- Because we start our sessions with prayer and music, both your audio and video may be disenabled when you sign on. It will be turned on and off by the Zoom monitors at the presenters request. If during a time the video and audio are turned on and you have noise or other distractions, you can mute your microphone and turn off your video. To mute yourself, select the microphone icon in the lower left corner of the Zoom call. When the icon has a slash through, it is muted. To unmute yourself when you need to speak, select the microphone icon.
- If you would like to speak.
Raise your hand (or use the “Raise Hand” of Chat function), as instructed by the session presenters.
- Be an active participant.
Ask/post only session related questions and comments in the chat.
- The host should be the last one to leave the Zoom session.
IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THE START OF A SESSION PLEASE CALL MATT DENTON AT 732-766-3755
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE START OF A SESSION PLEASE CALL APRIL MAY AT 443-854-5398
IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL ISSUES WITHIN THE SESSIONS PLEASE SEND A PRIVATE CHAT MESSAGE TO MATT DENTON OUR ZOOM TECH.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS WITHIN THE SESSIONS PLEASE SEND APRIL MAY A PRIVATE CHAT MESSAGE.