Tech Tip: Zoom Timer

Tech Tip: Zoom Timer. Graphic advertising the new tool and its uses in Zoom meetings.

Zoom just updated, and the new update included a new feature: Zoom Timer! You can now set up a timer or stopwatch and use it during a Zoom meeting. Learn more about how to turn on and use the new timer feature in the linked Knowledge Base article.

Tech Tips: Checking for Zoom Updates

Tech Tip: Zoom Updates. Did Zoom’s latest update catch you by surprise? Learn how to check for Zoom updates with our new Tech Tip! Image of a frustrated frog waiting for an update bar to fill.

Zoom’s latest update caught many people by surprise when it began right as they were trying to join a class or meeting. Zoom does not send reminders about new updates, so it’s good to get in the practice of checking for updates so you aren’t caught unawares. Let’s go over how to check Zoom for updates.

Checking for Updates

To check Zoom for updates, open the application on your computer. Once Zoom is open, click on your profile picture in the top right corner.

Screenshot of Zoom home page. Arrow pointing to the profile image in the top right corner.

Scroll down the pop-up menu that appears underneath your profile picture. Find and select the option “Check for Updates”.

Drop-down menu underneath profile image in Zoom. "Check for updates" button is highlighted.

If Zoom has an update available, it will prompt you to begin the update process. If it does not have an update available, you will receive a pop-up saying “You are up to date”.

And that’s it! The Help Desk recommends checking Zoom for new updates right at the beginning of each semester so you will be ready for meetings, online courses, and other online events.

Tech Tip: Zoom Notes

ALT TEXT: Collaborating over Zoom? Taking and sharing notes? Use Zoom Notes! Learn more: go.illinois.edu/ZoomNotes. Grey dotted background with outlines of blue circles. Image of document with comment bubbles.

When you’re meeting over Zoom, there’s a variety of reasons you may need to use and share notes: collaborating with other students during an online class, working on a shared document for a group activity, taking notes and creating agendas during online meetings, and more. Now, Zoom has released a brand new feature allowing you to take notes before, during, and after meetings, as well as share and collaborate on them with other participants.

Learn more about Zoom Notes and how to use it using the Help Desk’s new Knowledge Base article.

Tech Tip: Hybrid Meetings

Holding a hybrid meeting? Use the iSchool buildings' built-in computers! Image of a woman on a computer screen.

Whether you’re teaching a class or reserving a conference room for a meeting, if you’re holding a hybrid event you want it to go smoothly. Hybrid meetings are meetings with both in-person attendees as well as attendees joining over Zoom. If attendees are joining over Zoom and you would like them to speak or hear in-person attendees, you should use the room’s built-in computers.

Built-ins are computers included in iSchool conference rooms and classrooms. Some built-ins look like physical computers that can connect to projectors. Others might not be visible, but are accessible by using control panels in the room. Both kinds of built-in are designed to connect to the cameras and microphones in conference rooms and classrooms, while laptops are not. So while using your laptop to join a meeting might seem like the easier option, it can lead to audio and visual issues in the middle of a hybrid meeting. 

To learn more about how to use the built-ins for specific rooms, take a look at the linked KnowledgeBase article. You can also contact the Help Desk with any questions or concerns by emailing ischool-support@illinois.edu or calling us at 217-244-4903. We can help you troubleshoot any issues using the built-ins, and can also help you set up hybrid events. Fill out the iSchool Tech Support Request Form to have Help Desk staff stop by before your event to help set up tech. 

Tech Tip of the Week: Sharing a Portion of Screen in Zoom

Did you know you can share just a portion of your screen during a Zoom meeting rather than your whole desktop screen? It’s relatively easy to do so!

To share a portion of your screen, click the green share screen button at the bottom of the Zoom window. When the share screen settings window pops up, select the “Advanced” tab at the top.

On the Advanced menu, select the “Portion of Screen” option and then press “Share.”

A green window will then appear on your screen. You can adjust the size of this green window to fit the area of the screen you want to share.

Tech Tip of the Week: iSchool Wiki Zoom Resources

Welcome back, iSchoolers! Getting back into the swing of Zoom classes and meetings can be overwhelming, but the Help Desk has you covered with all the Zoom documentation you could need. The iSchool wiki has a dedicated page for Zoom resources and documentation, including tips on how to sign in to Zoom using SSO, navigating breakout rooms, and adding Zoom meetings to your Outlook calendar. Check out our Zoom documentation on the wiki here

And as always you can ask the Help Desk if you have any questions or concerns about Zoom! We are currently working in the iSchool building on the 2nd floor, and you can also reach us at 217-244-4903 or 800-377-1892, ischool-support@illinois.edu, and on our TechChat.

Tech Tip of the Week: Services Available After Graduation

While many services and accounts expire after graduation, some services will continue for a period of time. The Help Desk has compiled a list of services you can still use for a while after you leave the iSchool. Make sure to review it over the summer and save any information from these services before the Fall.

Tech Tip of the Week: Adding an Alternative Host to Zoom

You have a Zoom meeting scheduled but you, as the host, just realized you have a scheduling conflict and won’t be able to attend. Fortunately, you can assign someone else to be an alternative host in your absence. Alternative hosts have permissions that co-hosts do not have, such as starting, ending, or recording a meeting. The steps to create an alternative host for pre-existing meetings can be found on the iSchool Wiki. If you have any questions on how to use this feature, the Help Desk is here to help!