What is Zoom and how is it used?

Zoom is a videoconferencing tool that enables participants to "join anywhere, on any device" from mobile to desktop.  It can be used for distance learning, virtual meetings and collaboration sessions by providing video, audio, real-time messaging and content sharing in one application.  Some of its features include:

• Virtual meeting rooms that can host up to 300 participants
• Session recording and transcripts
• Built-in collaboration tools
• Meeting security (passwords, waiting rooms, placing attendees on hold)
• Team chat

How do I download and install Zoom?
(a.k.a. - Authenticate my CSU Zoom Account)

If you are faculty, staff or a student at CSU, you have access to a licensed version of Zoom.  Here are videos demonstrating how to download and install Zoom as well as sign-in using Single Sign-On (SSO), on a number of devices, with your CSU credentials.  This is how you would authenticate your CSU Zoom account.

Written instructions can be found here:

Zoom on a desktop | Zoom on iOS | Zoom on Android | Zoom on Chrome OS

Video demonstrations can be found here:

Zoom on a desktop | Zoom on an iPhone | Zoom on an Android

CSU Zoom Links

• CSU Zoom Login page 
• CSU Zoom Teaching Tools page (frequently used tools)
• CSU Edition of Zoom's Education Guide 
• CSU Zoom Help Meeting - Meet with us live for help with Zoom. (Monday through Friday - 8:30am to 5:00pm)

CSU Branded Virtual Backgrounds

You can add a Cleveland State look and feel to your virtual learning, teaching and working with University-branded Zoom virtual backgrounds.  When you sign-in to Zoom with your CSU credentials, you'll find them waiting for you to try out. You can learn how to select virtual backgrounds here.

Note: If you are not able to locate the CSU branded virtual backgrounds after signing in with your CSU credentials, please try updating your Zoom desktop client to the latest version.  You can learn how to update to the latest version here.

Resources from Zoom

• Best Practices for Securing Your Virtual Classroom (including how to lock your virtual classroom, control screen sharing, lock down the chat, remove a participant and more)
• Pandemic Resource Page (including a section on Educating Over Zoom)
• Zoom FAQs 
• "How to" video quicklets (provides quick instructions for common tasks such as: scheduling a meeting, recording a session, sharing your screen and more)
• Articles on Getting Started with Zoom
• Other Topical Zoom Webinars and Events 
• Zoom Blog

Zoom Learning Center

Zoom offers a wide variety of learning opportunities.  The Zoom Learning Center provides three tabs for various kinds of training.

• Courses and Learning Plans (Multiple module courses designed to provide the learner with a deeper understanding of Zoom and its uses)
• Live Training (Zoom-hosted live training on multiple subjects that last between 30 and 60 minutes)
• "Show Me" videos (Quick reference videos that demonstrate how to perform specific tasks within Zoom)

Topics include: Getting Started with Zoom, Zoom Meetings, Zoom Meetings for Education (Students and Educators) and Zoom - Ask Me Anything. They ask that you make sure to select the time zone that works for you when registering for one of their live training webinars.

The Zoom Learning Center can be found here.

More questions about Zoom?

You can access the Zoom Education Guide to learn how to install and start using it.

If you'd like to walk through the download and installation process with us or discuss how you can you use Zoom in your remote teaching, please contact us at instructionaltech@csuohio.edu.

You can visit our Zoom Help Meeting to get questions answered in real-time.  Our Zoom Meeting is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.