Zoom arrays us like products in a vending
machine: don't let it! Consider not sitting in the middle of your frame,
and/or positioning the camera at an angle. Use your body in the screen,
raising your hand, waving, applauding, gesturing. It can break zoom's
two-dimensional spell when you show three-dimensional objects.
Realize that zoom makes it seem that people are seeing and speaking to you when they may not be – and that it will seem they are looking away when in fact they are addressing you.
Realize that zoom makes it seem that people are seeing and speaking to you when they may not be – and that it will seem they are looking away when in fact they are addressing you.
Take advantage of the fact that everyone’s name is visible
and refer to people by name often. Make sure to learn how to pronounce their names,
and note people’s preferred gender pronouns.
You do not need to be looking at the screen at all times.
There’s no shame in looking down as you consult a text or take notes; indeed, that's normal classroom behavior!
Find something for your hands to do. Taking notes is good.
Doodling is fine, too. If your hands have something to do, your body has a
release from zoom-imposed rigor mortis. If you don’t give them something to do, they may conspire with your wandering attention to seek distraction on your desktop or online.
People can tell when you have other windows open.
Consider when it might make sense to turn the camera off.
When engaging in a breakout room or study group with people you don’t know
well, it might work for all to turn their cameras off. This is true not only when
there is some document or activity on the screen which you are working through
together. (But when the camera is off, keeping your hands busy is more important
than ever!)
Think about when it’s important for you
to see all the people in class and for them to see you. Keeping track of all the people in Gallery View is wearing. Speaker View needs less bandwidth from your computer and your brain. Monitoring yourself can be a big distraction, too; turning off Self View is
known to significantly reduce stress.
Learn how to adjust what others see when your camera is off – how to change your
name, as well as how to change the image you offer when your camera is off. And
do use an image – a black screen, even with a name, is impersonal. Let the rest
of us see an image of you, even if it's an avatar... and why always show the same one?
Use chat to share definitions, links, references, etc. clarifying things being discussed; unless invited to, don't use it to generate a parallel conversation.
Talk to each other about how zoom makes you feel.
