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Faculty Resource Center for Academic Excellence

Zoom Etiquette for Faculty

Preparation

  • Familiarize yourself with your computer and any software or hardware you plan on using during classes (e.g. document cameras, drawing tablets, online tools, etc.)
  • Set up a recurring meeting specific to each class. It’s a good idea to enable the following options:
    • Under “Security” enable the Waiting Room
    • Under “Meeting Options” enable join before host & Mute Participant upon entry
  • Create links for both the class and office hour zoom meetings in the Brightspace Course Menu.
  • The syllabus and online class information should include:
    • Zoom meeting IDs/web links with days and time for virtual classes and office hours
    • Link to SUNY Niagara online learning student orientation course that defines online learning and terms specific to the college
    • Instructions on how to use Zoom
    • Minimum Technical Requirements for the course
      • Devices & software
      • Is a microphone and/or camera required?
    • Rules for virtual class conduct and netiquette
    • A statement of privacy informing the students that virtual classes may be recorded
    • Instructions that the students must use their first & last names as display names.
    • Reminder for students to communicate with you through their T-Wolves e-mail for purposes of confidentiality.
    • An attendance policy corresponding to the SUNY Niagara policy for online or blended classes
  • Consider adding a neutral “virtual background” to your zoom video to hide personal items or clutter in the background
  • Set aside a quiet, distraction-free space to zoom from

Running the Virtual Zoom Class

  • Maintain professional decorum in the virtual classroom. This includes behavior, speech, dress, video background, and written communication.
  • Uphold professional standards in the remote class, just as you would for a traditional classroom.
  • Start the meeting 5 minutes before the actual start time.
  • Alert the class when you are about to start recording the virtual class session
  • Promote Student comfort with the medium
    • Remind students they can unmute themselves to ask questions at any time.
    • Avoid calling out an individual student for background noise. Simply inform the class you’re muting them all again because of background noise and remind them to stay muted unless they have a question.
    • Encourage student interaction by learning to use the polling feature in Zoom.
    • Do not insist on visual or audio participation. Not all students have a working camera or microphone. This medium may offer a glimpse into a student’s personal life that they’d rather not share with peers or instructors.
    • Use break-out rooms of 3 to 4 students each to encourage discussion or independent problem-solving during class time.
    • If assigning group projects, a breakout session with their group members during class allows them to get organized and begin communicating as a group.
  • Address distracting video or audio with a student directly outside of the virtual class environment. During class, use your permissions as a host to turn off their video or mute them without calling attention to them.
  • Periodically check the chat to address questions from students without microphones
  • Periodically check the waiting room, or turn it off, if you have students who are constantly being disconnected and need to reconnect due to internet issues.
  • Allow students to leave the virtual classroom after you’ve announced the end of the lesson. As in a physical classroom, some students may choose to stay behind to ask you specific questions without an audience.

Contact

Phone: 716-614-6790
Fax: 716-614-6828
Email: frcae@niagaracc.suny.edu
Location: D-106 Suite
Hours: M-F, 8:00am – 4:00pm