How To Use Zoom!

It’s not hard. Here’s how.

Before you begin: 

  • Find a quiet spot without extra background noise like TV, Radio or conversations. 

  • If you will be using video for your call, it’s a good idea to clean off the front camera on your phone, ipad or computer with a soft dry cloth. 

  • Put your phone or camera in a place that is close to face level, close enough so that you can hear people speaking (make sure your volume is up). 

  • Make sure your phone, tablet or computer is charged or plugged in, and that you are connected to the internet.

Going to a Zoom meeting:

For your first few Zoom meetings, give yourself 15-30 minutes to get ready.

The first time you use Zoom you will need  to download the app onto your phone using the App store for iphone/ipad, and Google play for Android. If you are using a desk or laptop computer you can visit www.zoom.us to set up the app. When setting up your account choose a name or nickname that people will recognize so people in the meeting know it’s you. 

When you are invited to a Zoom meeting, the person bringing everyone together (the host) will send you an invite. This will have the time of the meeting, link to join in, call in numbers if you are using a telephone, meeting id and password if needed. Keep this information in a safe place and do not share with anyone unless they are with you helping get you get onto your meeting. This is really important because Zoom meetings are like private parties, only people with invitations are allowed in.

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 1.59.13 PM.png

This is what a Zoom meeting invite might look like in an email…

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 1.59.25 PM.png

You can join the meeting by clicking on the “join from” link on your computer or mobile phone (with the zoom app) or dialing the number on a telephone. If using the telephone you will need to enter the meeting id, and there will be no video.

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 2.00.22 PM.png

You can join the meeting by clicking on the “join from” link on your computer or mobile phone (with the zoom app) or dialing the number on a telephone. If using the telephone you will need to enter the meeting id, and there will be no video.

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 2.00.27 PM.png

You will probably see yourself before everyone in the meeting does. This is a good time to double check that everyone can see your face clearly.

You have a couple of choices on how to see everyone in a Zoom meeting. 

Active Speaker shows the person who is speaking


Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 2.01.24 PM.png

Gallery View shows everyone at the meeting at the same time. This works best if you are using a laptop or desktop computer.

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 2.01.28 PM.png

Gallery view with many participants.

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 2.03.02 PM.png

You can control these settings in the top right section of your screen.

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 2.03.06 PM.png

If there are a lot of people in the Zoom meeting, your sound may be muted so that everyone can hear better. If your microphone is muted it will look red with a slash through it in the space next to your name.

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 2.04.17 PM.png

You can click on it to speak when the time is right.