Zoom Getting Started Guide for Students

Students can use Zoom to join synchronous class sessions or meetings.

• Downloading Zoom
• Testing your Equipment
• Joining a Meeting
• Best Practices for Meeting Participants
• Sharing your Screen
• Resources and Training

Downloading Zoom

Zoom is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. Download instructions are Internet browser or device specific.

Visit https://zoom.us/support/download You will then follow the instructions for your device below.

Firefox

1. If using Firefox, a dialog box will appear. Click Save File.
   
    
2. Click the Downloads icon.
3. Click Zoominstaller.exe.
   
    
4. When prompted, click Run.
5. When prompted, click Yes to allow Zoom to continue the installation.
6. Once completed, continue to Testing your Equipment.
    

Chrome

1. If using Google Chrome, the file will download and appear at the bottom of the screen. Click the file to begin installing Zoom.
   
    
2. When prompted, click Run.
3. When prompted, click Yes to allow Zoom to continue the installation.
4. Once completed, continue to Testing your Equipment.
    

Edge

1. If using Microsoft Edge, a dialog box will appear. Click Run to start the installation. 
   
    
2. When prompted, click Run.
3. When prompted, click Yes to allow Zoom to continue the installation.
4. Once completed, continue to Testing your Equipment.
    

iOS

To download the app to your phone:

1. Open the App store on your phone.
2. Tap Search.
3. Tap on the search bar, and then type “Zoom”.
4. Tap Search.
5. You will be looking for “ZOOM Cloud Meetings”. When you see it, tap Get.
6. Enter your Apple password if prompted. The app will download automatically.

Once the ZOOM app is downloaded to the phone, you are ready to join the conference either via URL or Meeting ID.
 

Android

To download the app to your phone:

1. Open the Google Play store on your phone.
2. Tap Search.
3. Tap on the search bar, and then type “Zoom”.
4. Tap Search.
5. You will be looking for “ZOOM Cloud Meetings”. When you see it, tap Install.
6. Enter your Google password if prompted. The app will download automatically.

Testing your Equipment

Before you join your first meeting, we highly suggest joining a test meeting to test your equipment.

1. Visit: https://zoom.us/test
2. Click Join.
   
    
3. Based on your settings, you may need to select an application. Select Zoom Meetings, then click Open link.
    
   Please Note: You may wish to check the box for Remember my choice for zoommtg links in order to skip this step for future meetings.
   
   
   
4. Click Join with Video.
5. Follow the onscreen prompts to test your audio.
   1. Make sure you can hear a ringtone through the speaker of your choice; you can choose another speaker from the Speaker 1 drop down box. Click Yes.
   2. Make sure you can hear a playback of yourself speaking; you can choose another microphone from the Microphone 1 drop down box. Click Yes.
   3. Click Join with Computer Audio.
6. Once you have setup your audio, you will be disconnected from the test meeting. You can run this test meeting at any time to check your configuration.

Joining a Meeting

You can join a meeting using a link or meeting ID provided by your faculty member or meeting host.

To join a meeting from a URL

1. Click the URL (you will be directed to download the client if you have not yet done so)
2. Click Join with Computer Audio (or if needed due to slow internet connection, click Phone Call and call using the phone number provided, then click Done)
3. You are now in the meeting.
    

To join a meeting using a Meeting ID

1. Open Zoom on your preferred device.
2. Click Join.
3. Type in the Meeting ID provided.
4. Click Join.
5. You are now in the meeting.
    

Best Practices for Meeting Participants

We suggest the following best practices for meeting participants.

1. Make sure you check your microphone and webcam setup prior to starting a meeting. See Testing your Equipment for step by step instructions.
2. Mute your microphone when you are not speaking, this will reduce feedback between your microphone and speakers as well as possible background noise.
3. Use headphones when possible to further reduce feedback.
4. Make it clear when you have a question, you can use the chat features to ask, or wait for your instructor to ask for questions verbally, but don't be afraid to speak up.
    

Sharing your Screen

Zoom allows for screen sharing on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices running Zoom.

To share your screen:

1. Click the Share button located in your meeting controls.
   
    
2. Select the screen that you want to share. You can also choose an individual application that is already open on your computer as well as a whiteboard. NOTE: not all sharing options will be available on all devices.
3. (Optional) Enable these features:
   • Check Share Computer Sound: If you check this option, any sound played by your computer will be shared in the meeting.
   • Check Optimize for full screen video clip: Check this if you will be sharing a video clip in full screen mode. Do not check this otherwise, as it may cause the shared screen to be blurry.
4. Your shared content will be surrounded by a green outline so you know what you are sharing, and your meeting controls will be minimized to a menu you can drag around.
5. To stop sharing, click the Stop Share button on your menu.
   

Resources and Training

To request help related to this article, please see our Service Catalog.