Zoom

Zoom is a cloud-based conferencing solution that provides both video conferencing and screen share capabilities. All USF faculty, staff and students have access to the university's licensed account and to Zoom’s great video conferencing features.

Features:

Real-time online conferencing to support meetings, teaching, and learning.
Present synchronous (live) or asynchronous (pre-recorded) lectures.
Faculty: Virtual office hours, online tutoring, and advising of students.
Meet with up to 300 participants online at the same time.
Assign participants to collaborate in groups online.
Share presentations and demonstrations to a remote audience.
Live transcription (Auto closed captioning) for meetings
Introduce guest speakers from remote locations.
Students: Host group sessions for project work and keeping connected

Getting Started

Downloading the software

Zoom is a software based video conferencing system; if you don't have the software installed, download a copy of the software from the USF: Zoom Download page.

Activating and authenticating into your account

You can sign in to the USF Zoom account site to access your settings, profile, scheduled meetings and cloud recordings: https://usfca.zoom.us/

To access the features in meetings, it is important to sign into the software app through Single Sign On (SSO). The instructions can be found in the sign in guide.

How do I use Zoom?

Setup_and_Use_Zoom (pdf)

New Update: Immersive View

Recreate the feel of your class or conference room by placing up to 25 video participants onto a single virtual background. Participants are automatically placed onto provided scenes and the host can adjust the arrangements as needed. The host can also use their own custom background for a unique scene. While this does not require use of the Virtual Background feature, it does work best when everyone has this functionality. Check out the tutorial for using Immersive View during meetings and Please note that this requires the Zoom app version to be 5.63 or later,

Immersive View in Zoom

Participants joining before the host: One new feature is changing the ability for participants can enter a meeting before the host. Instead of allowing participants to enter a meeting anytime, you can set a time period before the meeting that the participants can enter. Sign into your USF Zoom account and click on Settings. In the scheduling settings, check the option Participants can Join...and select the default time before the meeting that people can join. You can always adjust the time when you schedule the meeting.

Participant Join time settings

Scheduling Zoom Events in Google Calendar

Scheduling Class/Office Hour Meetings in Canvas

How to Create Attendance Report in Zoom

Immersive View

Enabling Live Transcription (Auto Closed Captioning) for Zoom meetings

How to use Breakout Rooms

Preassigning Breakout Rooms

Polls in Zoom

Recording Presentations in Zoom

Recording Presentations in Zoom with Transcription

Archiving Zoom recordings to Echo360

Student Resources

Remember that you too have access to the full USF Zoom license and to all of the tools for hosting your own meetings! Here are some tutorials and documentation to help you get started.

Activating and Authenticating into Your Account

It is important to sign in properly into the Zoom software app on your computer or mobile device both to host your own meetings with the licensed account and to join sessions that require an authenticated account to enter or participate. Here is the Student Zoom guide that shows the process.

Tutorials regarding setup, scheduling, recording and cloud recording access:

Setup and Use Zoom

Recording a Presentation with Transcription in Zoom

Accessing Restricted Cloud Recordings

Zoom equipment for Faculty: Remote and HyFlex instruction

This list comprises a base set of recommended equipment for the Bring Your Own Device or BYOD for faculty who are not assigned to the new HyFlex classrooms and need to bring in and set up webcams and microphones for class sessions.

Equipment for Faculty Instruction