What is Zoom Etiquette?
To ensure an environment conducive to effective communication between you, your instructor and classmates follow the guidelines below when participating in any Zoom meeting.
Be Professional
We often participate in Zoom meetings from the comfort of our home, apartment or other comfortable location. However, it’s important to uphold professional behavior as if we were meeting in a campus classroom or in an office boardroom. Dress appropriately and be in a posture ready to learn. Don’t lie in bed or on a couch; act as though you are in the classroom.
Be Ready
Sign on to the Zoom meeting a few minutes before the start of class to ensure your camera and microphone are connected and to be ready to listen and participate at the start of the meeting. You don’t want to be fumbling around running updates on your computer or testing your audio when your instructor is speaking and class has begun.
Environment
Find a quiet and private location where you can concentrate and focus on engagement with your instructor and classmates during the Zoom Meeting. If that is not available, and you are in a shared space with others, be sure to use headphones to respect others.
Background
Be mindful that Zoom meeting participants can see everything in your camera view. If you are in a shared space, use a virtual background or angle your camera away from distractions behind you that may be observed by other Zoom meeting participants.
Be Present
Actively listen, pay attention and participate in the Zoom meeting. Avoid multitasking, texting, or working on other coursework. Anticipate distractions that may present themselves during a meeting (e.g. a text message, phone call, a direct message on your computer or a friend walking into the room and talking to you, etc.). Mute your phone and close applications that might cause a disturbance during your meeting. Let your friends, family and/or roommates know that you will be in a Zoom meeting and ask them to respect your privacy and quiet space. Write on a piece of paper or note card, “In a Zoom Meeting” so that you can hold it up quickly to show others that they should not disrupt you.
Mute Your Microphone
To avoid causing disturbances to the class from unintended noises and feedback, mute your microphone when you are not speaking to the class. When it is your turn to speak, unmute your microphone and after speaking mute your microphone once again.
Follow Your Instructor’s Zoom Participation Guidelines
In your course syllabus your instructor will indicate course specific guidelines to follow for Zoom meetings.
Follow Guidelines for Camera Use
Your instructor may indicate a preference on whether your camera should be turned on or off during Zoom meetings. Depending on the amount of students participating, the course format and other factors, instructors may ask that students turn on and leave their cameras on during the Zoom meeting. In other cases, your instructor may ask that students turn their cameras off, except when speaking.
Follow Guidelines for Asking Questions
If you have a question for your instructor or you wish to speak in a conversation, follow the course guidelines provided by your instructor. Your instructor may ask you to physically raise your hand, raise the hand icon in Zoom, or simply turn on your microphone and start talking. If you are unsure of the protocol for your course, ask your instructor what he or she prefers.
Zoom Help
If you are unsure of the expectations for using Zoom in a course, ask your instructor to clarify.