Teaching online classes with Zoom

The following articles cover the usage of Zoom meetings which are used for class workshops and tutorials at Southern Cross University. 

Zoom offers a collaborative platform including features such as synchronous audio and video communication, a virtual whiteboard that can also be used to share applications, media, documents (e.g. PowerPoint presentations, Word documents) and web pages, text-based synchronous chat, polling, and other moderation tools and controls.

Zoom is ideal for conducting workshops and tutorials with students independently of their location. Zoom meetings can be recorded or downloaded for viewing later and can be converted to common audio or video format so that the session can be replayed.

The following articles provide guidance on the use of Zoom for teaching and learning at Southern Cross University.

Zoom vs Collaborate

The table below provides a brief comparison of some of the differences between Zoom and Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. Both software platforms share similar functionality so it's not worth getting too concerned about which is the better option unless you are teaching a large class.

Features

Collaborate Ultra: Standard sessions

Collaborate Ultra: Large sessions

Zoom Meetings

Zoom Webinars

Software required

Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are recommended but most browsers will work.

Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are recommended but most browsers will work.

Zoom Software must be installed and kept up to date.

Zoom Software must be installed and kept up to date.

Bb integration and scheduling

Located inside the standard Blackboard site template. Sessions can be open-ended or recur each week.

Located inside the standard Blackboard site template. Large Sessions cannot be recurring and maximum 24hrs duration.

Manually add Zoom LTI dashboard link to Blackboard. Meetings can recur each week.

Manually add links, no Blackboard LTI support. Large Webinars cannot be recurring or open-ended.

Recordings

Automatically generated, automatically become available on Blackboard within 24 hours. Can be downloaded by students.

Automatically generated, automatically become available on Blackboard within 24 hours. Can be downloaded by students.

Cloud Recordings will automatically appear in the Zoom LTI dashboard in Blackboard (deleted after 180 days). Local Recordings need to be manually uploaded and shared by the instructor.

Any recordings need to be manually shared by the instructor. Cloud recordings are deleted after 180 days.

Capture student attendance

Yes, through Collaborate reports

Yes, through Collaborate reports

Yes, through Zoom reports

Yes, through Zoom Webinar reports

Breakout Groups/Rooms

Yes, but stops the main room recording

No

Yes (must be enabled in settings first), can also record breakout rooms 

Can be populated based on Zoom Poll/Quiz results

No

Support for large classes

Max 250 students.

More than 250 students

Standard Collaborate Ultra sessions do not support more than 250 students, the larger the class the more likely issues will develop with connections.

Max 500 students. 

Limited interactivity

Large classes provide a limited experience with no breakout groups. You must enable large classes in Collaborate session settings. Settings are also automatically disabled for chat, webcam, voice, and whiteboards at the start of the session.

Max 1000 students with a large class license.

More than 500 students

You must request a Zoom license for large classes through Technology services. A maximum of 1000 students is supported in a large class. You are encouraged to use co-hosts to help manage large Zoom classes.

Max 1000 students.

Limited interactivity

Zoom webinars provide a limited experience with no breakout rooms. Please see the Technology Services Knowledge Base - Zoom Webinars for more information.

Mobile Support

Yes, works in a mobile browser

Yes, works in a mobile browser

Yes, Zoom App must be installed

Yes, Zoom App must be installed

Polling

Yes

Yes

Yes, Quizzes and Q&A supported

Polls, Surveys and Q&A supported

Share files (PowerPoint, PDF)

Yes, integrated File Share or Application Share (PowerPoints must be converted to PDF to maintain formatting)

Presenter or moderator only, students need to be promoted.

Powerpoint via screen sharing, in meeting file sharing (limited)

Host and Co-Host only, students need to be promoted.

Whiteboard

Yes, can't be recorded or exported. Can't draw on mobile devices. 

Presenter only, students cannot draw on or use whiteboards.

Yes, can be saved as a file.

Yes, can be saved as a file, students cannot draw on the whiteboard.

Zoom support articles

The following articles cover the use of Zoom for teaching and learning purposes.



More support resources and information


(Please note - it's better to refer to the Online version rather than export, as it's always up to date)