How To Behave Yourself on Zoom
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The Cardinal Rule of Zoom Etiquette
You might think that being in a class or meeting on Zoom is like watching television. No, it's not. It's more like being ON television.
Your Zoom hosts and fellow guests might not be bothered by any of the behaviors described here. Nevertheless, some of them will appreciate your consideration. Your Zoom host might even invite some of the behaviors mentioned here. Give priority to your host's guidelines over these suggestions.
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Recommendations
The short version:
1. Mute your microphone when you are not speaking.
2. Be mindful of background noises.
3. Limit distractions.
4. Avoid multi-tasking.
5. Raise your electronic hand if you wish to speak.
6. If you don't to be seen on the recording, turn off your video before speaking.
The detailed version:
Try to look nice. Dress as if to be near people in public -- you know, except for the mask.
Being on Zoom, as host or guest, is a close-up experience. Other people can see and hear you well, and can also bring your image to full-screen, and see the fine details of your appearance and behavior.
Join your class in a quiet place in your home, away from household or neighborhood noises.
Most sounds are louder and more distracting to people listening on Zoom than they are to you.
Locate yourself where your face is well lighted, but where your background is not busy, distracting, or too bright. If you want to use a background image, choose one that does not distract the viewer, attract comment, or distort your image when you move around.
Be quiet or keep yourself muted. Your host and other guests can hear everything you say, every little noise you make. To those using Speaker View, noises can make Zoom think you ARE the speaker, and bring your image to full-screen -- no place to hide.
Mute yourself before making noises, such as coughing, clearing your throat, even sniffling. Your classmates can hear all of these things. When expected noise strikes, first quickly mute yourself, attend to the noise, then rejoin.
Please follow your host's preferences about how to be seen and heard. This is especially important in discussions. A good way to contribute to a discussion is to raise your digital hand and leave it raised until the instructor recognizes you. Then unmute yourself and speak. Interrupting a speaker makes it impossible for the class to understand either of you.
Do not eat or drink. If you must indulge while attending a Zoom meeting, turn off your video. While others may not mind, I don't care to see you eating and drinking.
If a speaker's sound or video is freezing, PLEASE interrupt them right away to let them know. If they speak for a minute or two, and only then learn that they were not getting through to anyone, they might feel quite foolish.
Do not blurt out comments, reactions, or answers to questions. Reacting quickly to questions keeps your fellow attendees from being able to think about the issue under discussion. Raise your hand and wait for the host to call on you.
Do not constantly be saying things like "Yes," or "Uh huh," or "MMmmm," or "Ahh!", as if you and the host were in a private conversation. This kind of thing is annoying enough in a classroom, and even more so with Zoom's "close-up" feeling.
Do not use a Zoom meeting as an opportunity to show off pets, children, scenery, or possessions -- unless your host invites you to do so. I won't.
Remember that your host is the star of the show. Do everything you can to make the class pleasant and effective for the host and your fellow guests.
Last, but not least
Maybe right now you can't imagine being knowledgeable enough about Zoom to be tempted to help a host who encounters a problem during a meeting. But such helpfulness will become a temptation.
Resist it.
Here's Why
Sometimes your host might have a problem with Zoom, such as getting the right thing to show on the screen. Unless you are assigned as Technical Assistant for the meeting, DO NOT give the instructor ANY advice -- please wait SILENTLY (mute yourself) while your host works on the problem. Nothing makes troubleshooting more difficult than volleys of unsolicited instructions, especially from several disembodied voices at once. Chances are, you do not understand what the host is trying to do or, even more likely, how they are trying to do it, because with Zoom, there are often several ways to do the same thing. Please wait quietly until the problem is solved. If the hosts asks you what you are seeing or hearing, answer briefly.
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* Cardinal image by Craig ONeal - Northern Cardinal Female
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29831478
