Zoom is a synchronous communication tool that allows faculty and students to connect in real time using video and audio. Users can also share their screen, use a digital whiteboard, and record their sessions. Zoom can be accessed via Blackboard to connect with your class, or directly through Zoom to connect with other groups or individuals. 

NOTE: Zoom is fully functional, but is still in beta. Because of this, you might notice text that states there is a limit of 500 participants in the meeting. This is not accurate. Zoom will be able to host 1000 participants in a meeting. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Logging into Zoom through Blackboard: 

• Log into Blackboard and click on one of your courses. Look for the button: Zoom Meeting and click on it to access Zoom. NOTE: If you do not see the Zoom Meeting button, you can add it by clicking on the + sign above the menu on the left-hand side, choose Tool Link, type Zoom Meeting into the title, choose Zoom Meeting from the drop-down, check off Available to Users, and click Submit. 

  • On your first visit, you will receive a message that says to check your email. Please do so before returning to Blackboard to set up your meeting room for the first time.

    • ***NOTE: If you already have an account with Zoom, you will get to a different page. Please sign out (top right-hand corner) and then click on the link again to continue***

  • When you return to Blackboard after checking your email, click on the Zoom Meeting button (if necessary)

  • Click on the blue, Schedule a New Meeting button on the top-right hand side of the screen. This will be your open class meeting room. If you are going to use this room, there is no need to schedule additional meetings in Zoom through Blackboard. NOTE: You will need to do this for all of your classes. 

  • Edit the following options:

    • Topic: type in the name of your class or the course code so that the meeting is identifiable (E.g.: BIO 203.03)

    • Description: this is optional

    • Time Zone: check off the box in front of: Recurring meeting. Then, choose NoFixed Time from the Recurrence drop-down

    • Audio: make sure Both is selected 

    • Meeting Options: 

      • check: Mute participants upon entry

    • Click Save

Logging into Zoom directly: 

• Access Zoom online at stonybrook.zoom.us

  • On your first visit, click Sign in Configure your Account and sign in with your NetID and NetID Password

• Log in with your NetID and NedID Password 

After you set up your meeting room (See Getting Started), click Start next to the title you gave your room. This room will be available whenever you are ready to start a class session or office hours.

If you would like to set up additional meetings with start and end times, you can do so directly though Blackboard.

Remember to check your audio and video connection each time you enter a meeting. 

When setting up a new meeting, be sure to do the following under “Meeting Options”

• Uncheck: Enable join before host
  • Students will not be able to get into the meeting prior to your arrival 
• Check: Only authenticated users can join
  • This will limit the participants to only those that can log in with their Stony Brook NetID and password

Log into https://stonybrook.zoom.us/ and click on Settings for additional options: 

• Mute participants upon entry: Turn on
• Chat: you can turn off the ability for students to send a message visible to all participants. The hosts would be able to see chats, but not the other students. 
• Private chat: you can turn off the ability for students to be able to send private messages through chat 
• Screen sharing: by default, only the host can share their screen. Make sure you keep this option. 
• Annotation: you can turn off the ability for students to be able to annotate on the screen. 

There are a number of ways to engage students during your Zoom session:

• Use the  polling feature 

• Students can raise their hands or use other icons for non-verbal feedback 
• Students can speak, chat, or even share their screen
• Have students present their work or group projects 
• Use the chat functionality to ask questions or provide answers
• Use breakout rooms for small group discussions or groupwork 
• Annotate on a shared document or whiteboard

Faculty and students will have the option to record a session: 

• Faculty will be able to record to the cloud or record locally
• Students will be able to record locally 

Sessions recorded to the cloud

• You will receive an email when the recording is complete. There will be multiple files: video, audio, chat (if applicable), and transcription. 
• You will receive a second email when trasncription is complete. You can edit the transcript once it is complete. 
• All cloud recordings will automatically have a password. You can view, edit, or remove that password. 

Sessions recorded locally will have to be:

• uploaded to Google Drive, shared, and linked through Blackboard OR
• uploaded to YouTube and embedded in Blackboard

Sessions recorded to the cloud are automatically accessed through Blackboard:

• Click on the Zoom Meeting button
• Click on the Cloud Recordings tab
• Click on the title next to the appropriate date. You will get the option to view the video or listen to the audio. 

There are many tools you can use when meeting with your class

• iOS Screen Sharing
• Mute and unmute all
• Request or give remote control
• Screenshare a camera input
• Share your screen
• Using the whiteboard/annotation feature
• Video or microphone off by attendee
• Virtual background

In the following classrooms the instructor has access to a mic and camera attached to an installed computer.

HSC

• L2-105

• L2-125

• L2-154

• L2-161

• L2-232

• L2-310

• L3-159

• L3-171

• Seminar Room 2

• 4W0101

• 4W0101A

• 4W0101B

Southampton 

• Chancellors' Hall 112

• Fine Art 134

West Campus 

• Engineering 143

• Engineering 145

• Frey Hall 209

• Frey Hall 211

• Hariman 137

• Humanities 1003

• Humanities 1006

• Library W4535

• Light Engineering 102

Before using Zoom in any of these spaces,  please be aware: 

• Volume is set in these spaces. If you have volume issues in your recordings, please report the issue immediately, include a link to the recording and where you recorded.
• Use the mute all function in Zoom if you are experiencing feedback. This will mute all your students and should eliminate feedback.
• Once you start your Zoom meeting, please check the camera. If you are in a room that has preset options, on the Touch Panel, switch to camera, select your preset, and adjust it. Cameras are fixed in some rooms. If you are unsure if the camera can be adjusted, please check with AV Services.
• Zoom is not designed to capture what is written on whiteboards & blackboards. Instructors are advised to use the Sympodium in the room and share their desktop. 

To connect as a participant in Blackboard, click on the title of the Zoom room under the Zoom Meetings button:

• Please test your audio and video prior to your first meeting on the same device you will be using during the class/meeting