Zoom for Instructors & TAs

Modified on Wed, 28 Feb 2024 at 04:02 PM

The following article encompasses many aspects of Zoom; if you are only interested in learning more about the recent Canvas-Zoom Integration, please consult Canvas-Zoom Integration for Faculty & TAs 

Zoom Logo

TABLE OF CONTENTS


About Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing platform that allows users to perform synchronous (real-time) functions including host online meetings, participate in group messaging, and share video and audio content.


General Notes about Zoom at Penn


The Penn Zoom-Canvas Integration

Penn Zoom includes integrations with Canvas and Panopto, Penn's media platform. These integrations make it easy for you to schedule Zoom meetings for your classes, invite students, and share recordings of Zoom meetings. 


How to Set up & Use the Penn Zoom-Canvas Integration

The Penn Zoom-Canvas integration is recommended for online or hybrid courses with synchronous sessions (class meetings, office hours, presentations, etc.). To learn more, please consult Canvas-Zoom Integration for Faculty & TAs


How to Decide Whether to Use the Penn-Zoom Canvas Integration for Recording Meetings

We realize that there may be times where you do or do not want to record a Zoom meeting.


Common Scenarios for Sharing Zoom Recordings with Your Entire Class

  • Class meetings
  • Review sessions 
  • Student Presentations

When Not to Record Zoom Meetings

  • Office hours
  • Private meetings with students


If you would like to share recordings in Canvas with your entire class:


  • Share recorded class meetings through Class Recordings in Canvas so recordings are available to students seamlessly. Zoom recordings initiated within Canvas are automatically stored in Panopto, and they will appear under Class Recordings in your Canvas site within 24 hours.
  • Zoom recordings initiated within Canvas will automatically be uploaded to Class Recordings and will remain available indefinitely.

If you want to record a Zoom meeting but do not want to share a recording in Canvas with your entire class:


If you accidentally record a Zoom meeting outside of Canvas that you want to share with students:


You can download the recording from Zoom and upload it manually to Class Recordings if you would like to share it with students.

How to Edit or Delete a Penn Zoom-Canvas Recording in Panopto

If you want to edit or delete a recording you accidentally shared with students in via the Penn Zoom-Canvas integration, please follow these steps:


Please note: Any recordings in Zoom's cloud will be deleted once it is older than 120 days. If you wish to keep this recording long-term, please be sure to download a copy to your computer. 

For help with downloading a Zoom recording, please see ISC's PennZoom Cloud Recording download instructions.


  • Go to http://upenn.zoom.us/signin and log in with your PennKey.
    • Choose the prompt to launch the meeting in the Zoom app. The Zoom App allows for full suite functionalities, such as breakout rooms.
  • Activate the Zoom integration in your Canvas site by adding the Zoom and Class Recordings feature to your class menu. Read more...
  • Schedule your class meetings through Canvas so they will be automatically available to your students. Read more...
    • TAs and Co-Hosts are automatically added as Alternative hosts through Canvas, but you can add or remove Alternative Hosts as needed. Read more..
    • Having a Non-Penn Guest that needs access to your Zoom Session? Read More..
  • Remember: Recordings started in Canvas are automatically posted to Canvas.  When you schedule your Zoom sessions through Canvas, the recordings will be posted in your Class Recordings folder and available only to students enrolled in your class. Read more... 

New Zoom features (as of Summer 2022)

Zoom Whiteboard 

Zoom Whiteboard is a collaboration tool with an infinite digital canvas. Participants can share whiteboards across any Zoom enabled device, during and outside of a Zoom meeting. A visual space that can be used for interactive teaching, teamwork, brainstorming, and more. 


Zoom Advanced Polling

Polls are a Zoom feature that allows hosts and co-hosts to launch a live set of questions for participants to answer during a meeting. These can be conducted anonymously or openly. When a poll is completed, you can share the results with everyone and download poll data to review later.   Some ways to use polls are to create ice breakers, make group decisions, share opinions, take quizzes, and provide feedback. There are two types of polls, basic polling, and advanced polling. Create polls ahead of time for scheduled meetings in the Zoom web portal or during a live meeting using the tool bar’s poll icon.    


Zoom Chat


Zoom Chat is the messaging element of the Zoom Desktop Client application. It allows Zoom users to chat privately or within groups, and in public or private channels. Users may also share files, organize chats, set presence status, and more. Zoom chat works alongside other features of the app, including Zoom meetings, contacts, and whiteboard. It differs from the in-meeting chat function, which is a temporary chat only available within a Zoom meeting.   


  • Please note: LPS Online does not encourage the use of the Zoom Chat function inside the desktop client. This creates one too many channels of communication and may be hard to monitor.


Zoom User Guides & Additional Information


Help & Support

If you are having difficulties with Zoom, please reach out to online-learning-help@sas.upenn.edu 


*Some content taken with permission from infocanvas.upenn.edu and https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us

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