Using Zoom at Temple University

Zoom is an easy-to-use web conferencing solution that provides HD video and audio and robust collaboration, recording and security features.

• Zoom Quick Start Guide is available at: Zoom Support Site
• A Frequently Asked Question Guide is available at: Zoom Frequently Asked Questions

Join a meeting by clicking the meeting link provided to you or by going to join.zoom.us and entering in the meeting ID. Learn more about joining a meeting.

On most devices, you can join computer/device audio by clicking Join Audio, Join with Computer Audio, or Audio to access the audio settings. Learn more about connecting your audio.

A Bluetooth headset can be used as long as the Bluetooth device is compatible with the computer or mobile device that you are using. While you are not required to have a webcam to join a Zoom Meeting or Webinar, you will not be able to transmit video of yourself without one. You will continue to be able to listen and speak during the meeting, share your screen, and view webcam video of other participants.

There are 4 ways to schedule a meeting:

1. Through Canvas
2. On the web via zoom.temple.edu
3. Through the Zoom Desktop client
4. On the mobile app

Learn More About Scheduling a Zoom Meeting

Invite others to join your meeting by copying the join URL or meeting invitation and sending it to meeting participants via email or a calendar invite. Learn more about inviting others to Join a Meeting.

All Temple Zoom hosts can record and store recordings either in the cloud or locally to their computer.

• In a Zoom meeting, press Record to start the recording
• To pause a Zoom recording, hover over the bottom of the Zoom window and click on Pause
• By default, local recordings are saved to your documents folder; cloud recordings can be found on the Recording page of your Zoom web portal

With the increase in hybrid and online classes, Temple is experiencing a major increase in Zoom recording storage. These recordings are large files and our space is limited. We strongly encourage you to review your recordings and delete any that are no longer needed.

Cloud recordings older than 120 days will be deleted for faculty and staff; recordings older than 30 days will be deleted for students. These recordings will be moved into the Zoom trash and permanently deleted after 30 days. If you wish to keep any of these recordings, please download them to your local storage.

To download a recording to your computer, go to zoom.temple.edu

• Click Sign In
• Click Recordings on the left
• Click the More button next to the recording and select Download.

To delete a recording, perform the same steps as above, but click Delete instead of Download. For multiple recordings, you can also click the check boxes on the left and select Delete Selected or Delete All.

Click Share in your meeting and choose the screen that you would like to share. Learn more about sharing your screen.

Focus mode gives the host and co-host ability to view everyone without participants seeing each other's videos. The purpose is to minimize distractions while students work on class assignments. This setting also allows the host and co-host the ability to view each participant's shared screen, while each participant will only see their own shared content.

Focus mode can be enabled during a meeting when clicking on "More" and then "Start Focus Mode." To end Focus Mode, click on "More" and then "Stop Focus Mode."

If you would like to turn off the ability to use Focus Mode in your meetings, login at zoom.temple.edu. Click on "Settings" and located "Focus Mode." Toggle the setting off. Moving forward, Focus Mode will no longer appear as an option during your future Zoom meetings.

Learn more about Focus Mode.

Video (3:55): Focus Mode

Setting up waiting rooms, limiting access to Temple users only, Removing Users, and Locking Meetings are some of the methods that can be used to prevent unauthorized participants from joining your meeting.

• Controlling Access to Zoom Meetings

For faculty, you can use Zoom for online office hours using the waiting room feature to keeping meetings secure.

• Hosting Online Office Hours

Use the steps below to prevent participants from sending private chats to other participants during your meetings.

1. Log into zoom.temple.edu
2. Click on Settings
3. Locate Private Chat
4. Toggle this setting off so that the button is gray

This will prevent participants from chatting with other participants privately during your meetings.

Disable chat if you do not want to allow participants to chat with anyone, even the host:

1. Click on Security
2. Uncheck Chat by clicking on it

If you would like participants to be able to chat with the host only, follow these steps:

1. Click on Chat
2. Click on the three dots
3. Click on Host Only

In some cases, photos can be used as backgrounds in Zoom meetings. Zoom virtual backgrounds, however, have specific PC/Mac requirements. So, it's important you check if your system meets the requirements to use this feature.

Learn more about Using Virtual Backgrounds

Learn about Zoom Virtual Background System Requirements

Zoom allows you to create single choice, multiple choice, or advanced polling questions such as matching, ranked choice, short answer, and long answer options. You will be able to launch the poll during your meeting; gather responses from attendees; and, if desired, download a report of polling after the meeting. Polls can also be conducted anonymously. Learn more about Polling in Zoom.

Zoom allows you to download reports of meetings, as well as poll reports. Please see Downloading Reports for a step-by-step walkthrough of the process.

Zoom has audio transcription available for videos recorded to the cloud. The transcription appears along the right side of the page when viewing your video and identifies speakers and time stamps. This transcription will need to be reviewed and edited for any issues since it is auto-generated. For more information about Zoom transcription, including how to turn it on for your Zoom account, please see Using Audio Transcription for Cloud Recordings

• My video/camera isn't working.
  • Read tips on troubleshooting a camera that won't start or show video.
• There is echo in my meeting.
  • Echo can be caused by many things, such as a participant connected to the meeting audio on multiple devices or two participants joined in from the same local. Learn about common causes of audio echo.
• Audio isn't working on my mobile device.
  • Read tips on troubleshooting audio that isn't working on your iOS or Android device.

If you have any questions about Zoom at Temple, please contact the Help Desk at 215-204-8000 or submit a tuhelp ticket.

Sign up for Live Webinars

• Zoom Live Training

On-Demand Training

• Scheduling Meetings
• Join a Meeting
• Pinning and Spotlighting Participants
• Using Breakout Rooms
• Security Toolbar Icon for Hosts
• Sharing Your Screen
• In-Meeting Chat

For self-service assistance, visit the Zoom support site.