Install the Zoom client (opens new window) on your PC or Mac, and/or add the Zoom app to your mobile device.

Follow the steps in How do I schedule online meetings? to set up your class in your UVACollab site.

When teaching online, you should work in a physical space that is conducive to holding class.  To make your virtual classroom more engaging:

• Work in a quiet room, with minimal background noise and distractions.
• Connect a webcam to your computer so you can be visible to your students during class.
• Use a good microphone. A noise-cancelling headset is recommended.

Review UVA's Zoom Accessibility Best Practices (opens new window) for tips to make your virtual classroom accessible to all students.

If a student has a special need for online courses, such as a requirement for live captioning, coordinate with the Student Disability Access Center (opens new window) to ensure that everything is set up for the student to participate.

When creating your meeting for class, select the option Mute participants upon entry so students' microphones will be disabled by default when they join the room.

For steps to enable this option, see How do I schedule online meetings?

Join your meeting a few minutes before class to check that your audio and video are working.

Create a document or slide with an agenda or list of topics for each class that you can share with students.

For steps to share documents and slides in Zoom, see the Zoom Help: Sharing your screen (opens new window).

Recording your class meeting to the cloud will allow students to review the discussion later. This will help students who could not attend the class or who want to reinforce their understanding of the lesson.

• Watch the In Meeting Controls (Basic) video from Zoom to become familiar with some fundamental meeting controls.
• For your first class, set aside some time to introduce your students to Zoom and ensure that they’re able to connect their audio and video.
• Give an agenda or plan for each class by screen sharing a document or slide at the beginning of class. This gives students a clear idea of how the class will progress, what will be covered, and the activities they’ll engage in. For steps to share documents and slides in Zoom, see the Zoom Help: Sharing your screen (opens new window).
• Discuss online etiquette and expectations of the students in your first virtual class and periodically revisit the topics. You may also refer students to UVACollab's Tips for Attending Class in Zoom.
• Utilize the whiteboard or annotate a shared document and let your students engage as well.  For steps to use the whiteboard and annotation tools, see the Zoom Help: Sharing a whiteboard (opens new window) and Using annotation tools (opens new window).
  Suggested uses of the annotation tools:
  • Try whiteboarding math problems.
  • Have a student use annotation to highlight key ideas in a document you’re sharing.
• Take time to promote questions, comments, and reactions from your class. Give a minute to allow your students to utilize reactions, write their questions in chat, or be unmuted to ask their questions live.  For more information about these features, see the Zoom Help: Meeting reactions (opens new window), In-Meeting Chat (opens new window), and Push to Talk (opens new window).
• Divide into smaller groups for a discussion on a certain topic. You can use Zoom’s Breakout Room feature to either pre-assign or auto-assign students into groups for a short period of time so they may discuss things together.  For steps to use Breakout Rooms, see the Zoom Help: Managing Video Breakout Rooms (opens new window)
• Have students be the presenter and share projects with the class. This allows your students to show what they’re working on while practicing their presentation skills. It also allows students to hear from one another. You can allow a student to present by making them a co-host during the meeting. See the Using Co-Host in a Meeting section on the Zoom Help page: Enabling and Adding a Co-Host (opens new window).

• Look at the camera to create eye contact with your students. This helps to create a more personal connection while teaching over video.
• Take a second to check chat or your student’s video (if on camera) to check-in with your students and get feedback.
• Speak as if you’re face-to-face with the class while ensuring you’re at the appropriate distance from the microphone for the best audio experience.
• When delivering a presentation, sharing images, files or video, give your students a moment to open or take in what you’ve shared.
• Embrace the pause. Take a moment after the end of your comments and allow for students to engage before continuing on.