How to Prepare for a Zoom Meeting
Here are some quick tips for preparing for your space for a Zoom meeting:
Camera placement: higher (eye level) is better
Location: check the background--avoid bright windows, distracting clutter
Lighting: gentle lighting behind your computer is best
Experiment with location--you don’t have to be in an office - maybe try outside if lighting works!
Think about noise both ambient (washing machine) or sudden (dogs barking)
We also suggest you test out the Zoom environment before using it:
Test your mic and camera
Get close to the mic. If you have headphones with mics, they can sound better than the laptop mic
If you plan to share your screen, be aware of what’s on your desktop and close/clean up anything you don’t want shared
Keep an eye on the chat (or consider assigning students to this)
Be aware that audio can drop out--empower students to signal you if there are problems
Likewise, if you are sharing from your computer, ask students if their view is clear and legible. Consider sharing the slides or materials in case it helps some students.
A word about recording...practice!