UP TechTalk

Exploring the wise integration of technology in teaching and learning

Zoom

April Zoom Update

Posted by Filed Under: News, Online Learning

With a new month, comes new Zoom updates! While Zoom has not released any key features for end users this month, they have continued to release regular bug fixes to address issues with functionality and user experience. If you have not already done so this month, be sure to check for updates- even if you primarily utilize Zoom from the web. This is because Zoom accesses the on-device client in order to operate your camera, mic, and meeting controls, making it important to have the most recent version to prevent any in-meeting issues.

More information on how to update your client can be found via Zoom’s support site:  Update your Zoom Client. Note, if you do not have the Zoom client pinned to your computer desktop or dock, you may need to follow these directions to locate the program on your computer.

If you are on Mac. . .

Mac users will also want to look ahead to the month of May- starting at the beginning of May 2021 Zoom and Microsoft will be moving ahead with the deactivation of the legacy Zoom plugin for Outlook in favor of the newer Microsoft add-in. Before May, you will want to ensure that you are on the add-in rather than the older plugin to ensure that you are not interrupted in your ability to schedule and start Zoom meetings from Outlook.

Note: PC users do NOT need to take any action at this time- there will not be any changes to the Outlook Zoom integrations on the Windows platform.

Mac users can check if they are on the legacy plugin by following these steps:

  1. Quit Microsoft Outlook
  2. Open the Finder 
  3. Click the Applications folder
  4. Check for a folder called ZoomOutlookPlugin 
  5. If you find a folder by this name, open it and run the Uninstall application, following the prompts to remove the plugin from your system.

After removing the legacy plugin, the updated add-in can be added via the following process:

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook
  2. Click the Home tab
  3. Click Get Add-ins
  4. Search for Zoom and Add
  5. Quit and restart Outlook to ensure the add-in is fully installed

For more information on why Microsoft is making this change for Mac users, check out the Microsoft support article.

Questions about Zoom? Contact ATSI.

Upcoming Zoom Updates for March

Posted by Filed Under: News, Online Learning

In the coming month, Zoom will release a number of new updates and features. You can find information on several of the most notable updates below. Additional updates for can also be followed anytime on Zoom’s release site.

Search for Alternative Hosts

Now, when adding alternative hosts to a meeting, instead of having to manually type in your alternative host’s email address, you will be able to search them from our Zoom users directory. This search option will return any individuals who have activated their UP Zoom Pro account.

Want to appoint someone as an alternative host who has not yet activated their account? Have them follow our activation instructions.

Enhanced In-Meeting Alternative Host Functionality

If a meeting’s original host joins after their appointed alternative host, the original host will now take over control of the meeting and become the host. If the co-host feature is enabled for the meeting, the alternative host will become a co-host. If this feature is disabled, the alternative host will become a normal participant.

Persistent Non-Verbal Feedback Returns!

Due to feedback from users regarding the change to non-verbal feedback being dismissed automatically, Zoom has reinstated the previous functionality for non-verbal feedback. Going forward, the “Yes,” “No,” “Slower,” and “Faster” options will again remain flagged on screen until dismissed by either the attendee or the host- making it easier to ensure that feedback is not missed, especially in a large group.

In case you missed it: the Blur Background Feature!

Announced in January via PilotsUP was another key feature- the ability to blur your background rather than use an image. Many may be familiar with this feature already from Microsoft Teams- allowing you some workspace privacy with a more neutral appearance that the photo option.  The blur option can be found in the Virtual Background settings of your Zoom client.  Find out more about setting up virtual backgrounds here: Zoom Virtual Backgrounds. 

And, Last but not Least- Updates!

Zoom has released a number of updates to the Zoom client over the month of February (most recently on February 18th with another release planned on March 1st to deploy these new features). Even if you primarily utilize Zoom from the web, it is very important to regularly check for and install updates to the Zoom client installed on your device in order to ensure access to the newest features and security. This is because, even when joining from the web, Zoom accesses the on-device client in order to access your camera, mic, and meeting controls. More information on how to update your client can be found via Zoom’s support site:  Update your Zoom Client.

Questions about Zoom? Contact ATSI.

Improvements Coming to Zoom and Poll Everywhere!

Posted by Filed Under: News, Online Learning, Polling

While we wrap up the Fall of 2020, we are beginning to look forward to prepare for the Spring of 2021. As we do so, there have been some exciting announcements from the providers of two of our tools.

Zoom

In order to utilize these updates, be sure to update your desktop or mobile client to the most recent version (in the desktop version, this can be done via the user menu, or if you are on mobile, you can check for updates via your device’s app store).

Enhanced Co-Host Priviledges

While in the past, co-hosts in a Zoom meeting did not have the same abilities to control breakout rooms during a meeting- requiring them to rely on the primary host- Zoom has made updates to extend the same control options to co-hosts. For many who are in team teaching roles, this long awaited change will bring much greater flexibility in scheduling, lecture planning, and the ability to be flexible on your feet as a course meeting progresses.

Desktop Meeting Reminders

The Zoom desktop client will now have the option to give reminders to users of upcoming meetings. This will be especially useful for those users who prefer to manage their meeting schedule within the Zoom app, rather than having to add their meetings to Outlook or another calendar program in order to receive reminders of their meetings. For new users, this will be enabled by default. Existing users who wish to enable this option can do so via their settings page in the Zoom web portal or in the General Settings portion of the desktop app.

In-Meeting Poll Reports

Added 12/21/20

Starting with the new version of Zoom released on 12/21, users can now access their Poll Reports during a meeting instead of having to wait until the conclusion of the meeting, giving more flexibility in when and how to share Poll results.

Non-Verbal Communication in Meetings

Added 12/21/20

Also released 12/21, non-verbal feedback (“yes,” “no,” etc.) now appears under the Reactions option which has housed icons such as the smiley face and thumbs up. This will make it much easier for users to access and use these options interchangeably without needing to access multiple menus within the Zoom interface. These reactions will now also show in the top corner of the user’s video as well as in the participant list.

Hosts and co-hosts will also notice that they can see the “Raise Hand” option under reactions going forward. Previously, this option was restricted to meeting participants, however the inclusion for the meeting hosts and co-hosts will now allow for more flexibility in situations where meeting leadership is being shared/handed off between multiple people.

Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere has also released several exciting updates as well as an important functional change to the Trash folder.

New Presenter Controls

Poll Everywhere has updated their Presenter Controls options for greater ease of use.

First, users will now be able to toggle between activity views in their surveys: when you enter fullscreen and present a survey to your audience, you’ll see new buttons to advance between questions, lock or unlock each activity, and to choose your desired view.

In addition, the bottom of the screen for each activity will now have unique views customized based on on the activities features. For example:

  • Did you request responses on a Multiple Choice activity with one correct answer? You can now choose between views that show the instructions, the responses, or if answers were correct.
  • Did you present a clickable image with predefined response regions? You can now choose to view the image you presented, the results, the regions on your image, or even all of the above at once!

Sharing Responses

You can now share the responses you collected even after your class meeting is over! This addition will provide another useful way for students to review information while studying or working on projects for future course meetings.

To utilize this new option, instructors can select up to 20 items from their activity list to be shared at once. After selecting the desired activities, click the “Share Response” option at the top of your activities page and enter your students email addresses to send them a link which will allow them to download screenshots of the information. Students do not need to have signed up for their own Poll Everywhere account in order to review the shared information.

A Change to Trash Retention

Added 12/21/20

Starting January 25th, 2021 items in your trash folder will be deleted after 30 days. After deletion, activities are not recoverable so be sure to remove any items you may want to keep before that period of time.

Interested in more Product Updates?

Both Poll Everywhere and Zoom maintain product update pages where you can read more about recent developments that might be of use in your classes.

The ATSI team can be reached via email with questions on these or other Academic Technologies in use at the University of Portland.

Zoom: Connect with Confidence!

Posted by Filed Under: Online Learning

On November 10th and 17th, Zoom will be offering a two part series on connecting with confidence using Zoom. These webinars will impart helpful hints and ideas which will be sure to be useful to faculty, staff, and students alike!

The sessions will feature world-class communication coaches from “Own The Room” for an interactive experience for all attendees. Many of the basic communication and interaction skills included in the sessions will be of benefit not only in our current online environment, but as good basis for future hybrid and in-person settings as well! For more information, and to register for the series, see Zoom’s announcement: Connecting with Confidence in Higher Ed.

Additional Zoom resources and webinars can be found on Zoom’s Support Site. The Academic Technology Services and Innovation team also offers an assortment of student and faculty guides for the UP community.

ATSI can be reached via email with questions about Zoom or other online learning platforms in use at the University of Portland.

New Features Coming to Zoom and TechSmith

Posted by Filed Under: News, Online Learning

Zoom

Zoom has released two new features which are sure to be especially useful for your upcoming meetings.

New Security Feature

The first new feature is the ability to restrict entrance to Zoom meetings to those logged on via the University of Portland Zoom account.  This setting can be found in your meeting settings when scheduling a new meeting (or editing an existing meeting).

demonstrative image, see instructions

As a reminder, users who have not yet activated their account can do so by following our Activation Instructions.

Self-Selection of Breakout Rooms

The other new feature of note is the ability for meeting attendees to self-select the breakout room which they want to join, as well as move freely between those rooms during the meeting if desired. For up to date information on Zoom Breakout rooms, please see their Managing Breakout Rooms and Participating in Breakout Rooms guides. As a note, the meeting host and attendees will all need to be on version 5.3.0 or later of the Zoom app. If you have not updated recently, this is a great time to check that you are on the most recent version. To do so, click your Zoom user menu (represented by your initials or photo) and select “Check for Updates.”

TechSmith

The picture-in-picture recording feature is back in the new version of the Capture recorder in Knowmia!

When preparing to make a new recording, you will now have the option of Picture-in-Picture (PiP) or Fullscreen mode under the webcam options menu. Picture-in-Picture will be the default mode- and will display the camera feed in the bottom right corner of the recording area (note: you will not be able to toggle back and forth between PiP and Fullscreen mode after starting a recording, so you will want to take this into account when selecting options pre-recording).

A preview of the new layout for PiP:

Updates to the recorder will roll out automatically over the next few days and install when users next start the recorder. If you want to enable the feature before it appears automatically on your account, you can do so by uninstalling the existing Capture Recorder from your computer and then starting a new capture from your Knowmia site, which will prompt you to download the new version.

For support using either of these platforms, contact atsi@up.edu.