How to Zoom

Cloud learning isn't a new concept.

The current world situation has led to many changes in many sectors in the world to adapt to remote work. Being a university student cloud learning has always been accessible as the majority of our information and resources that we access are provided through the cloud.

Zoom university has been a great experience for me. I graduated from the arts faculty where the transition to the cloud wasn’t difficult. I only rocked up to university for classes. Whilst, on the other hand, I have friends and peers who are doing science degrees and have to watch their professors perform the pracs whilst they can’t physically do it themselves. It baffles me that they still need to pay full price but that’s for another discussion.

Here are a few tips for Zoom University.

1. Participate

It's a hassle but it's for the best. The whole point of Zoom is to replicate the 'classroom'. This allows the tutor to discuss the work for the week, talk about upcoming assignments and to partake in discussions. It provides us with the feeling of being inside a room without being there in person since we can’t be on campus.

You don't have to go straight ahead with turning on your camera if you're shy and uncomfortable (unless you’re in bed)... This isn’t easy for everyone and it’s valid if you’re not comfortable being on camera or turning on your mic. I’m not here to tell you what to do but it makes the classes more bearable when people get involved in the discussion.

For me, it was to keep myself accountable because I did participate in class discussions when I had classes on campus. Following that, we're spending money to attend these classes and I would like to get my money's worth. I went to campus because it gave me a reason to leave the house and to experience university life.

2. Online collaboration

This is the tricky part of Zooms because it is a tool of online collaboration. It can be difficult to put out an opinion and that’s when breakout rooms are handy. When in the big ‘room’ the same people that always talking I was one of them in my subject as I felt the need to fill the space because discussion allows for people to bounce off ideas. I did also experience being alone with my unit chair once...

Allowing back and forth discussion = recreating that classroom feel and for people to understand concepts better.

It's a new skill to hone and develop with the likelihood of classes still being online for the time being. There might be an uptick with more classes being offered online if there wasn’t an option for online. The on-campus experience will always be superior where you are taking real-life connections and getting involved in university culture. Online collaboration is a skill that you can put on your resume and that’s not all that bad.

3. Etiquette

You are in class... There isn’t much to it other than to be sitting in front of the camera to listen to the lecture and to participate.

The common arrangement in Zoom is having everyone muted besides the professor/tutor and when you speak you unmute yourself to contribute. Feel free to eat your snacks and drink water in class since we’re in the comfort of your own house/study/office space (remember to be muted when you’re eating).

4. Bring your pet if you have one

I love it when I see someone in my class bring in holding and hugging their dog or cat. Anyone will appreciate it because the days are much longer now that we’re attending virtual meetings all day long. There’s me silently screaming half the time wherever I see a pet because that’s how I am.

Final thoughts:

Do I trust Zoom no but if it’s a way to collaborate then it is what it is. University classes are slowly coming back with caution but cloud learning has cemented a place in the education system as an alternative for people to access if they can't physically attend.

There's no going back to the normal but to adapt to the 'new' normal!