Joining a Zoom Meeting or Workshop for the first time? Don’t be scared, it’s really easy and painless.
You’ll receive an email that includes a link to the meeting. It will look something like this:
Walter Boomsma is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Walter Boomsma’s Personal Meeting Room
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9613224063?pwd=MXZOYkVvdHBOZlJLYkUwS0xMWmEXXXXX
Meeting ID: 961 322 XXXX
Passcode: XXXXXX
Just click the link below “Join Zoom Meeting.” You may be asked to enter the meeting ID and Passcode depending on the type of meeting or workshop. (Do not use the information above, this is a sample only!)
If it is your first time “Zooming,” there’s a one-minute video that might be worth watching—it shows how easy this is. It moves fairly fast so you may decide to watch it more than once!
PLEASE do not wait until just before the meeting to do this. Once the meeting starts, I cannot provide technical assistance to individuals having difficulty—that’s simply not fair to other participants. You can arrive at the meeting early—this gives you an opportunity to check your audio and video and become a little familiar with the Zoom Ap.
Here are a couple of guidelines for participating:
- Consider muting yourself, particularly if you are in a noisy environment.
- Assume you’re being watched and heard at all times. Sitting at your own desk in your own home or office makes it easy to forget that you’re in an online meeting where every participant can see and potentially hear everything that happens.
- Stay focused! Trust me when I tell you, it’s easy to tell when someone is multitasking or distracted. It’s not fair to the other participants and disrespectful to the meeting leader or instructor. (I can tell some great stories!)
- Eliminate distractions. Close down other applications, turn off your phone, etc. Make the meeting or workshop a priority—do not make other participants feel undervalued and disrespected.
- A downside of this type of meeting is they can feel impersonal and disconnected. Common courtesy and a smiling face will help. Being on time, maintaining eye contact, and paying attention can go a long way towards creating a happy meeting or workshop!