Zoom is web conferencing software that allows instructors/meeting organizers to create virtual meetings where you can share and record your computer screen with viewers.Villanova provides faculty with Zoom Pro accounts. Previously you had to request one but in response to the Covid-19 closure, accounts have now been created automatically for all faculty. Use the Villanova Zoom Login page link to get started. Villanova staff who need a Zoom account must still request one.
Zoom integrates with Blackboard allowing students access to the faculty member's upcoming live sessions/meetings as well as recordings of prior class sessions. There are options for tracking attendance at live sessions as well as tracking downloads and views of recorded sessions. The links below walk you through setting up a meeting and provide additional user guides and other materials to help you understand the software or troubleshoot issues that may arise during use. There is also a mobile app available for iPhone and Android as a well as a plug-in for presenting from an iPhone/iPad.
A faculty training on Zoom was held on March 13th and a recording of that training is provided below. Zoom trainings are also available from UNIT as webinars that may be attended from on or off-campus. Please see UNIT"s Workshop Calendar for upcoming sessions.
For more information about Blackboard generally, see the Blackboard Basics tab.
UPDATE MARCH 31ST: Waiting Room Feature Now Applied to All Zoom Meetings
Creating On-Call Student Gallery
Want to limit the webcams displayed to just a few students who are "on-call?" See this video by Alvin Wong from UNIT.
Turning Off Attendee Waiting Notifications
Tip: Want to turn off those "attendees are waiting" notifications when students join a meeting before it starts? Log into the Settings Tab on villanova.zoom.us Scroll down the page to the “Email Notification” section on the “Meeting” tab (near the bottom of the page) You’ll see an option to turn off “When attendees join meeting before host.”
Use the Poll Template below to create questions ahead of time. NOTE this template can only be used when you first create the meeting at villanova.zoom.us or when you Edit this Meeting in Blackboard. If you wish to add a poll to a meeting that has been created at villnova.zooml.us, you will need to enter questions manually as described below.
USING THE TEMPLATE (two options):
1. When you first create a meeting:
Enter your questions into the template and then create your meeting so that you can upload it at that time--look for poll option at the bottom of the page.
2. Editing a meeting already scheduled in Blackboard:
Manually Creating Zoom Polls AFTER a Meeting Has Been Created (villanova.zoom.us)
1.Go to villanova.zoom.us and click on Meetings and locate the meeting you want to add a poll to
2. Click on the Edit option.
3. Scroll down the page and click the blue Save button to move on to the next page
4. Scroll to the bottom of that page where you will see a link to "Add" a poll.
5. Enter your question and add another if you wish but keep in mind that questions added together here will display as a set meaning you won't be able to display just question 1 and then show question 2 later in the session etc.--all questions will display at the same time.
Blackboard Collaborate is web conferencing software that is built into Blackboard. It allows for screen-sharing and recording but requires a bit more set up than Zoom. UNIT offers frequent online training sessions on Blackboard Collaborate and the links below are for videos and user guides designed to help faculty set up, teleconference, record and share Blackboard Collaborate sessions. For more information on Blackboard generally, see the Blackboard Basics tab.
NOTE: It is not recommended ot switch back and forth between programs while screen sharing (i.e. starting with PowerPoint slides then jumping to a live website then back to PowerPoint) as the connection often breaks leaving students staring at a black screen although the faculty member doesn't realize it since their screen is displaying the slides or site.
Prezi.com is a free, online alternative to PowerPoint. Faculty can build slides, include hyperlinks, images, video etc. There is also a "Present Remotely" option which allows you to share the link to your Powerpoint (either post to Blackboard or send via email) with up to 30 students/participants. Students do not need a Prezi account to participate and it does NOT record your presentation.
Skype for Business allows Villanova employees to create Skype conference calls from their Outlook calendar. Creating the invite generates a conference call number and conference call ID for attendees. Skype can also be accessed via mobile device or installed from Office 365 on your PC or Mac (may already be installed on University issued devices, check program list before downloading). Skype allows you to share video and cast your screen during meetings in addition to providing the conference line.