Introduction
Zoom is a versatile video conferencing tool that unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, group messaging, and a software-defined conference room solution into one easy-to-use platform. You can host and join Zoom video conferences from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The Zoom Help Center has full instructions on using Zoom. The instructions below are specific to Virginia Tech. To see other Zoom topics, please see Video Conferencing - Holding Zoom Conferences on a PC or Mobile Device.
This article details how to use Zoom in Canvas. If you add a Zoom Meeting to your Canvas site:
- Students need to log into Canvas to go to join the meeting.
- Scheduling class meetings through Canvas prevents unwanted participants.
- You can keep more course-related information in one place.
- You can only add scheduled meetings to Canvas.
Contents
- Enabling Zoom in Your Canvas Site
- Using the Zoom Canvas Tool
- Adding a Zoom Meeting to a Module
- Adding Alternative Hosts
- Getting Help
Instructions
Enabling Zoom in your Canvas Site
Videos by TLOS: Professional Development Network |
Using the Zoom Canvas Tool
- Go to a Canvas site and, on the Course Navigation Menu, click Zoom.
- If you're a student and don't see Zoom, it's because the instructor hasn't made it available.
- If you're an instructor, you can change which tools appear on the Course Navigation Menu in Settings -> Navigation.
- The first time you go to Zoom from Canvas, click Authorize.
- You'll go to the Zoom tool in Canvas, which has some of the same functions as the Zoom Client.
- To start an instant meeting, click on the Personal Meeting Room tab, scroll to the bottom, then click Start this Meeting.
- To start a scheduled meeting, in the Upcoming Meetings tab, next to the scheduled meeting information, click Start.
- To schedule a new meeting, click Schedule a New Meeting.
- On the Schedule a Meeting page, enter the topic, time, duration, and other meeting options and click Save.
- To see a list of past meetings, click Previous Meetings.
- To view and delete meeting recordings on the Zoom cloud, click Cloud Recordings.
- Meetings saved to the Zoom cloud appear in Kaltura's My Media tool in Canvas.
- Zoom cloud recordings are removed after 30 days.
Videos by TLOS: Professional Development Network |
Adding a Zoom Meeting to a Module
- In Zoom, create a meeting and copy the meeting's join URL .
- If you don't know your meeting's join URL, go to meetings in the Zoom Web Portal and click on your meeting topic.
- Next to Join URL under Invite Attendees, copy the meeting URL.
- You cannot link instant meetings to Canvas.
- If you don't know your meeting's join URL, go to meetings in the Zoom Web Portal and click on your meeting topic.
- Log into Canvas and go to the site where you want to add the Zoom meeting.
- Create a new module (click Modules, then +Module) or scroll to an existing module where you want to add the Zoom link.
- To the right of the module, click the add (+) button to add a content item.
- From the Add drop-down list, select External Tool.
- Scroll to the bottom, and click Zoom.
- In the URL text box, enter the meeting's join URL that you copied in step 1.
- Change the Page Name to something descriptive.
- Click Add Item to save.
- Click the Publish icon to the right of the content item to make it a green check mark.
- If the module is not yet published, click the Publish icon to the right of the module title to make it a green check mark.
- Click the module link to test the integration.
Adding Alternative Hosts
An alternative host allows you to choose someone to start meetings without you. As a teacher, you can assign your TA or another professor to start your class if you will be late or unable to attend.
To add an alternative host to a scheduled meeting:
- In your Canvas site, click Zoom in your Course Navigation Menu.
- Click on the meeting topic.
- Scroll to the bottom of the information page and click Edit this Meeting.
- In the edit page, scroll down to Alternative Hosts, then type in the email of who you want to host for you and click Save.
- Alternative hosts must have a licensed Zoom account with Virginia Tech (current faculty, staff, and students).
- If a faculty, staff, or student isn't showing up on the list, their account may have been downgraded to a Basic account because they haven't logged in for 1+ year. Have them go to the Virginia Tech Zoom Web Portal and log in with SSO to upgrade their license. Then try to add them as an alternative host again.
Getting Help
For instructions on resolving common issues with Zoom, see: Video Conferencing - Troubleshooting Zoom.
- Go to 4Help, log in with your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and password, and click Get Help.
- Call 540-231-4357.
For problems using Zoom, contact Zoom Support:
- Search Zoom documentation in the Zoom Help Center.
- Chat live (24-7) with Zoom support. Go to Zoom Video Communications Technical Support and click Chatbot.
- Call Zoom support (24-7) at 888-799-9666 ext 2.
- Check the status of Zoom services.