Canvas-Zoom Integration for Instructors & TAs

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Overview
• How to Get Started with the Canvas-Zoom Integration
• What to Do Before Using Zoom for Your Course
• How Students Will Use the Canvas-Zoom Integration
• Top Tips for Using the Zoom Integration
• Specific Questions & How-to Guides
• Additional Support

Overview

The Zoom integration allows instructors to schedule Zoom meetings directly inside Canvas. 

Anything scheduled and then recorded using the Zoom integration will appear in the Class Recordings (Panopto) area of the Canvas site in 24 hours.

How to Get Started with the Canvas-Zoom Integration

1. Set up Your Zoom Account ASAP - If instructors or TAs do not have a PennKey-affiliated Zoom account, please create one ASAP via Zoom for SAS Faculty, Staff, and Students.
2. Make Sure the "Zoom" and "Class Recordings" Buttons Are Enabled - Enabled by default; however, if you do not see the Zoom or Class Recordings buttons in your Canvas site's navigation menu, please follow these instructions: Add Zoom and Class Recordings (Panopto) to a Course navigation menu
3. Download the Zoom app - Download the Zoom app to your device. You must use the Zoom app for breakout rooms and other advanced features; the web browser version of Zoom is limited.

What to Do Before Using Zoom for Your Course

• Go to https://zoom.us/ and make sure you are logged out of Zoom. This step prevents the issue of Zoom logging you into a non-Penn account. 
• Go to http://upenn.zoom.us/signin and log in with your PennKey.
• Choose the prompt to launch the meeting in the Zoom app. 

How Students Will Use the Canvas-Zoom Integration

Students do not need to create a Zoom account to access Zoom in your course; however, SAS Online Learning is advising students to set up Zoom accounts for two reasons:

• Zoom Security Settings: if you enable the "Only authenticated users can join" setting for your Zoom account, then students who do not have PennKey Zoom accounts cannot access your Zoom room. This setting is one of several security recommendations for using Zoom in Penn courses. More information: Recommended Security Measures for Zoom Meetings.
• Pre-Assigned Breakout Rooms: the new Canvas-Zoom integration lets instructors create pre-assigned breakout rooms; however, for this to work, students need PennKey Zoom Accounts. More information: Pre-assigning Participants to Breakout Room.

If students need help setting up their Zoom account, please direct them to Zoom for SAS Faculty, Staff, and Students. 

Students will access the Zoom room for your course by clicking on the Zoom button in Canvas. If you have added links to your course's Zoom to other places in Canvas (e.g., your homepage), students can access your Zoom room through those links as well.

Top Tips for Using the Zoom Integration

1. Activate the Zoom integration in your Canvas site by adding the Zoom and Class Recordings buttons to your course navigation.
2. Schedule your class meetings through Canvas so the class Zoom schedule will be automatically available to your students.
3. TAs are automatically added as Alternative hosts through Canvas, but you can add or remove Alternative Hosts as needed. Have your TAs click on the Zoom and Class Recordings buttons in your course to sync with the course site. Add additional Alternative Hosts for meetings inside the upenn.zoom.us meeting's settings area
4. Recordings are automatically posted to Canvas.  When you schedule your Zoom sessions through Canvas and record the session, the recordings will be posted in your Class Recordings folder and available only to students enrolled in your class. If you accidentally record something sensitive, you can temporarily hide the Class Recordings button, wait for the video recording to appear, and then delete it before re-enabling the Class Recordings button.
5. Use Zoom for recurring office hours. Please be aware that Zoom meetings will automatically terminate after 40 minutes of inactivity. This is normal behavior. If you have a Zoom meeting open, but no one has joined the meeting, the meeting will stay open for 24 hours.

Specific Questions & How-to Guides

• Canvas and Zoom (Central Penn Recommendations) 

Additional Support

Please reach out to online-learning-help@sas.upenn.edu for support with Zoom.