Table of contents
The tool of choice for connecting with remote participants from a classroom is the Zoom platform. The following steps will enable instructors to leverage the Zoom platform to successfully engage both local and remote audiences.
For more information on how to use the Zoom application and ELMS, visit Instructor's Guide to Zoom.
Getting started
To use the classroom cameras and microphones in Zoom in all classrooms (except "BYOD" classrooms), you must participate in your Zoom meeting from the classroom computer (PC Main). You may choose to share content from the classroom computer (PC Main) or a personal device connected to the system.
Log into the classroom computer (PC Main) with your University directory credentials. Launch your Zoom meeting by opening up the Zoom application from the desktop or by logging into ELMS.
If you intend to share media with audio, ensure that you enable the Share Sound feature in the Share Screen pop-up window; the checkbox is located in the bottom left corner.
Adjust the Suppress background noise setting from Auto to Low. Click on the up arrow next to the microphone icon and select Audio Settings… Under Audio, you will see the Suppress background noise setting.
In classrooms without a Shared Video button on the Select Video Source page on the touch panel, the Document Camera, Cameras, and other sources can be selected in your Zoom video/camera settings.
In classrooms with a Shared Video button on the Select Video Source page on the touch panel, you can pull source content (Mersive, Document Camera, Cameras, etc.) into your Zoom meeting by selecting the source and sending it to the Shared Video button on the touch panel. Then the source can now be added into your Zoom meeting via the Zoom video/camera settings.
For additional details on how to use the touch panel and setup the AV system, please refer to the AV Touch Panel Guide.
Troubleshooting video and audio settings in Zoom
If you find that audio or video settings are not working properly, please check the settings based on the following table. First, check to see if the Shared Video button is located on the Select Video Source page on the touch panel in your classroom. PC Main must be the audio source; the active system audio source is the last source you send to a destination on the touch panel.
| Setting | Classroom with shared video | Classroom without shared video |
|---|---|---|
| Camera setting: Select a Camera | A/V Bridge | Inogeni |
| Microphone setting: Select a Microphone | A/V Bridge | Line-in |
| Speaker setting: Select a Speaker | Use the setting listed on the sticker label on the lectern monitor | Use the setting listed on the sticker label on the lectern monitor |
Sharing the Document Camera in Zoom
To share a document camera in a classroom without a Shared Video button on the touch panel, click on Share Screen in the Zoom meeting task bar. Click on the Advanced tab at the top of the window.Click on the Content from 2nd Camera option, then click on Share.
To share a document camera in a classroom with a Shared Video button on the touch panel, on the Select Video Source page, select Document Camera and send it to the Shared Video destination button. The Document Camera will now replace the camera that was selected for the meeting. Remember to send Camera (A or B) to Shared Video once you are finished with the document camera.
See the Guide to Classroom Document Cameras: Lumens and Wolfvision for more operational details.
Using a personal device as the content source
Some faculty prefer to present with their personal device to share content and use the classroom computer (PC Main) to display and manage the Zoom meeting. To use the classroom cameras and microphones, you must participate in the Zoom meeting from the classroom computer (PC Main). Here is our recommended setup for using your personal device.
- Display the classroom computer (PC Main) on the classroom projectors/displays
- Connect to the Zoom meeting with your personal device
- On the classroom computer (PC Main), enable the personal device as a co-host
- On your personal device, turn off your camera, lower your speaker volume to zero, and mute your microphone
- If you intend to share media with audio from your personal device, ensure that you enable the Share Sound feature in the Share Screen pop-up window; the checkbox is located in the bottom left corner.
Get support
- For immediate help with classroom technology, call DIT Classroom Support at 301.405.2500 (x52500).
- Email classrooms@umd.edu to report a problem or to schedule training.
- For more information on classrooms, go to classrooms.umd.edu.