- Instructional Technology
- Zoom Tips for Teachers
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NEW - Zoom Premium for Teachers & Librarians!
Plano ISD now has premium Zoom accounts for teachers and librarians. You'll find the new "Zoom (PISD)" app in your Webdesk. Please sign out of your old Zoom and follow these directions to activate your new premium account! Instructions for Switching to PISD Premium Zoom Account See also "Zoom Premium FAQs" below.
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Tech Check
Get the most out of your professional learning by making sure you can see and hear the instructor. Use this link to test your device before attending a Zoom meeting.
Zoom Test Link
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Zoom Video Conferencing
Zoom is a webinar platform that lets you connect with other users who also have access to Zoom inside and outside of the school district.
- To use Zoom on a district desktop/laptop, install the client version from the App Depot (See instructions below)
- To use Zoom on a Chromebook see these instructions on the Zoom website
- To use Zoom on a personal computer, you can either install the client version via the Zoom website OR access the web version via the Zoom app in Webdesk
- User limit: 100 (Basic) 300 (Licensed)
- Time limit: 40 minutes (Basic)
- You can chat, share your screen, and record a Zoom webinar. Note that some of these features can only be accessed/activated by the Zoom moderator, the person who creates the meeting.
Content Accordion
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How to get Zoom (install & sign in)
On a Desktop on the PISD Network
Get the most out of Zoom by installing the client version. Here's how:
1. Install Zoom from the App Depot located on your desktop.
2. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT SEE THIS POP-UP DEPENDING ON YOUR SETTINGS. During the installation, if you see this window, check “Remember my choice . . .” then click on Launch Application.
3. Once the installation is complete, click OK. A shortcut will automatically be added to your desktop.
4. Sign in with Google using your PISD credentials.
On a district-issued laptop
Option 1 - Desktop client version
Same as above however you MUST be on the network in order to install apps on the PISD network. So bring your laptop to work to install it.
Option 2 - Web version
Use the web version of Zoom by launching the Zoom app from Webdesk. Sign in with Google using your PISD credentials.
On your personal computer
Option 1 - Desktop client version
See instructions on the Zoom support page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/sections/200305583-Desktop
Option 2 - Web version
Use the web version of Zoom by launching the Zoom app from Webdesk. Sign in with Google using your PISD credentials.
On a Chromebook
To use Zoom on a Chromebook see these instructions on the Zoom website. See also our "Zoom Tips for Students" page.
On an iPad
Install the Zoom iOS app. Sign in using your PISD Google account.
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Start a Meeting
Start a Meeting
Start a meeting right away or start a scheduled meeting.
Zoom on Desktop
1. Open the Zoom app from your desktop (install via App Depot).
2. Sign in with Google.
3. Click "Start Meeting", then "join with audio" to begin a meeting right away.
Zoom on Web
1. Open the Zoom app from Webdesk.
2. Sign in with Google.
3. Click on "Host a Meeting" on the top right.
Start a Scheduled Meeting on Zoom Desktop
Click on Meetings at the top, select the meeting you want under "Upcoming", then click Start.
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Schedule a Meeting & Invite Participants
Schedule a Meeting
You can open either the Zoom desktop client (installed to your desktop via App Depot) or the Zoom web client (via Webdesk). See Scheduling a Meeting on the Zoom support page for more details on scheduling via the web.
1. From the Zoom desktop client (install from App Depot), click Schedule
If you're using the client version of Zoom, notice the message that your scheduling settings have been synced to the web portal. This means that if you open Zoom from Webdesk (or directly to Zoom.com) your meetings will be there as well.
2. Scheduling options
- Topic: Enter a title specific to your Zoom session
- Date & Time: Enter date and time of the scheduled event
- Duration: Zoom Basic is limited to 40 min. It will cut you off after 40 min.
- Meeting ID: Generate Automatically or use Personal Meeting ID# (always use for instant meetings)
- Security: Enabling a waiting room adds a layer of security allowing you to monitor who to admit.
- Video: Leaving the video off for the Host and Participants disables the webcam from being turned on upon entry. Users can always turn this back on.
- Audio: Allow participants to join via Telephone & Computer Audio so they have options.
- Calendar: We suggest selecting Outlook so that you can easily invite participants via the calendar invite. The Outlook invite will pop up after you save the Schedule Meeting settings.
- Advanced Options: Make the selections based on your preferences. For example, if you're conducting a training to a large group, you might want to disable join before host and enable mute participants upon entry.
- Don't forget to Save!
If you chose to connect to a calendar, you will be prompted to sign into that account and it will open your calendar settings. This is where you can invite participants to the meeting. Or you can copy and paste the join link to an email. See more below.
Invite Participants to the Meeting
Invite participants either by copying the join link and emailing your participants or via the calendar event. Please do not post the URL to a published website as you might receive unwanted guests.
Email Invite
1. Click on Meetings
2. Copy Invitation
3. Open your email, paste the invitation information, enter the participants' email addresses, then Send.
Calendar Invite
If you chose to connect to a calendar in the Zoom Meeting settings, you will be prompted to sign into that account and it will open your calendar settings. This is where you can invite participants to the meeting.
On the Zoom web client, you can open the scheduled meeting and select the calendar in which to create a meeting event. Notice you can copy the meeting invitation to email participants here, as well.
- Topic: Enter a title specific to your Zoom session
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Join a Meeting
Zoom linked in email
- It is likely that the meeting moderator sent you an email with the Zoom meeting link embedded in it. Open that email, click on the link, and Zoom will load for you. Be sure to have followed the Zoom installation steps above.
Meeting ID
- If you do not have the meeting hyperlink in an email but you do have the Meeting ID, then you can:
- Launch the Zoom app from your desktop.
- Click "Join a Meeting".
- Enter the meeting ID given to you by the moderator.
Tip
- If you join a meeting in which you would like to only be a viewer and not verbally participate, check the boxes to turn off audio and video when joining the meeting.
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Tips for Students
See the "Zoom Tips for Students" page on the left navigation pane.
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Breakout Rooms
Using Breakout Rooms
Note: Only a Host or a Co-host has the ability to apply breakout rooms. Once breakout rooms have started, the host/co-host has the ability to jump in/out of any room. Watch the video below to see how to broadcast a message and set timers.
1. First, enable breakout rooms by going to your Settings and turning it on.
In Settings, scroll down to find "Breakout room" and turn it on.
2. When you start a meeting, you will see the Breakout Rooms option on the bottom of the meeting screen.
3. Select how many rooms in which to place the participants, either automatically or manually.
Another option is to pre-assign them - How to pre-assign breakout rooms.
Video on creating breakout rooms
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Captions
Automated Captioning
Follow these directions to enable captioning in Zoom: Enable Captions in Zoom
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Recording
Recording & Saving Live Instruction
See our step-by-step guide on Recording Live Instruction.
The Zoom support page may also be helpful: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362473-Local-recording
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Best Practices
10 Ways to Secure Zoom
Best Practices for Securing Your Virtual Classroom
https://blog.zoom.us/best-practices-for-securing-your-virtual-classroom/
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Zoom on Chromebook VS. Windows/Mac
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Zoom Support
- Visit the Zoom support page for instructions and videos on how to use this platform: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697
- Contact the Digital Learning Team - pisd.edu/dlt
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Zoom Premium FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the difference between a Basic Zoom account and a Premium Zoom Account?
A: These new licenses offer greater functionality than the basic (free) accounts many of us have been using since remote teaching and learning started (Spring 2020). Among the enhanced features are cloud recording, dial-in phone numbers, increased participant capacity (300) and Single Sign On through Webdesk. Coupled with Zoom’s advanced noise-cancelling technology, break out room capability, and enhanced in-meeting management features (e.g. Mute All, Disable Chat, etc), we believe this tool is a welcome addition to our instructional technology toolbelt.
Q: Does this mean we can no longer use Google Meet?
A: Google Meet will remain available and viable for a variety of purposes. We love the convenience of Meet’s integration with Google Classroom. Google will soon (Fall 2020) place some limits on our version of Meet that may prevent it from being the most appropriate solution in some circumstances. Notably, all recordings made in our version of Meet will be given a “temporary” designation. They will expire in 30 days, can’t be downloaded and may not be shared outside of the organization. Those limitations may be OK in some cases, but not in others. Google is also making noise cancellation part of it’s premium package (that we don’t have), reducing participants to 100 (from 250) and will no longer be providing dial-in numbers for meetings.
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Install Zoom from App Depot
Having issues with sound while on a work computer? Be sure to install the Zoom app from the App Depot.
Detailed instructions are in the section "How to get Zoom - install & sign in" below.
Update Zoom
Make sure you have the most updated version of the Zoom app on your desktop by checking for updates. Click on your image on the top right then click "Check for Updates". Follow the prompts to update as needed. If on a district laptop, you'll need to update via App Depot while on the network.