Zoom

UCF offers a campus-wide license for Zoom, a video-conferencing platform that allows you to interact synchronously with your students; this interaction can include: presenting mini-lectures, conducting whole-class and small-class discussions, and engaging and interacting with students using a variety of features. Zoom is most widely used tool at UCF to facilitate live class meetings.

Assessment Zoom Strategies

Use Zoom to:

  • Conduct synchronous online class sessions and utilize feature to promote engagement and interaction
  • Virtually bring in a guest speaker to speak with your students
  • Hold virtual office hours or meet one-on-one with students

Info Features of Zoom

Zoom provides a variety of features for you to choose from including the following: ARE THE STANDARD FEATURES OR ONLY THROUGH PAID VERSIONS?

  • Screen sharing
  • Chat
  • Polls
  • Whiteboard
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Breakout rooms
  • Live transcription
  • Editing captions for accuracy in recordings
  • Trimming (e.g., edit) the beginning or end of a recording

Note: You may create polls and breakout rooms in advance of your class meeting.

Strategies Logistical Considerations

Before using Zoom, consider:

  • What is the size of your class?
    • Zoom sessions are limited to 300 participants. If you are teaching a large class, consider using Panopto or another tool.
  • Will you include small group activities or discussions during live Zoom sessions? 
    • Consider setting the breakout rooms in Zoom prior to the class meeting. 
    • Decide how you will share directions and prompts for students. 
  • Are you planning to record mini-lectures or screen recordings using Zoom? There are a few limitations when using Zoom to create recordings, including the following:
    • Zoom recordings cannot be embedded into your course; you can only link to these videos. 
    • Zoom recordings are deleted one year after creation according to the UCF Zoom retention policy. Although you may have the option to extend this timeframe, we advise you not to risk losing any recordings you created.
    • Panopto is the recommended tool to create asynchronous videos since it allows you to use more robust features when creating and editing a recording. 

Zoom frequently releases updates with new features:

    • Be sure to test using Zoom to prior to your first class to become familiar with any changes or new features. 

Refer to the Facilitating In-person and Online Synchronous Sessions page for more detailed logistical information regarding planning and facilitating a Zoom session.

Syllabus Zoom Integration with Your LMS

You may enable Zoom in your  LMS course(s) by following the steps provided in this guide Links to an external site.. 

 Resources Zoom Resources

  • UCF Zoom Guides
  • LMS Support provides support to faculty and students for any technical assistance, concerns, or questions related to Zoom.