Let’s Zoom!

Hey there! Wanna join in the fun but don’t have a clue how to Zoom? Or maybe you have dabbled but would like to make it a better experience? I’ve learned a bit these last few weeks and thought I’d share.

First, you don’t have to have an account. If it’s your first time, follow the prompts to download the application.

You can mute or unmute by clicking on the microphone in the lower left. You can also unmute by hovering over the upper right corner of your picture frame or click anywhere on your video window to see other options.

In some views, the controls will fade away so you can focus on the speakers—mouse over the bottom of the Zoom window to make them reappear.

I will mute everyone after sharing the focus and intent in my Nia classes. Muting ensures the camera focus doesn’t jump around during class. If you “leave the meeting” and come back, please mute yourself when you return.

You have control to be visible or not. I like to, at least, say “Hi” and see you before class starts but it is totally up to you to be seen. Click on the camera icon on the bottom left of the window. Remember, if you don’t see controls, hover at the bottom of your Zoom window with your cursor.

Three Different Views

You have three main choices for your screen layout: Speaker View, Gallery View, and pinning a video. The two main options of Speaker View and Gallery View are in the upper right corner. 

Speaker View allows for the person speaking to fill the screen with a strip of participants on the side. I will be on the large screen for Nia classes if you select Speaker View since I mute everyone for class. If you want to keep me on the big screen during Ageless Grace, you need to “pin video” (more on that in a sec).

Gallery View allows for all the participants to fill the screen as long as no video is pinned.

To make the screen even bigger, click the little box in the upper right-hand corner of the screen (to the right of the View selection) or go to the View tab above the app and select “Enter Full Screen.” Get out of the full screen by clicking in the same upper right corner or press “esc” on your keyboard.

You can also cast or use AirPlay to get what’s on your computer onto your TV, which makes it even bigger. I like to “mirror” what’s on my laptop to my TV when I am taking other classes.

You can “pin video” for any participant—even yourself—by hovering your cursor in the upper right corner of any of the individual screens. You will see an option to mute and three little blue dots. If you hover your cursor over the dots, you will see an option to “pin video” in the selection.

If you pin a video, you will see only some of the participants in a strip—usually to the right of the screen. There is a little arrow at the bottom of the strip to scroll through and chose who you would like to see. You can click and drag the strip around the screen. It becomes horizontal at the top or bottom, and vertical on the left and right. Drag it to where you want, and it slides into position. Moving the strip can only happen if you “Enter Full Screen”.

Anyone can host a meeting for free. Go to zoom.us and select “host a meeting.” Make an account, and from there, you can invite people—select “Participants” at the bottom of the Zoom window. Click “invite” on the bottom. I copy the URL and paste it into an email or text. 

With a free account, you can Zoom an unlimited amount of time for two people and up to 40 minutes with three or more Participants. Have a tea party and test it out!