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You can also test your internet connection by joining a test meeting (if your Wi-Fi connection is unstable, you can improve video performance by connecting directly to your ethernet). Before a session, it's always a good idea to open the Zoom software and test your webcam and microphone to make sure they're working to avoid technical surprises once you're live.
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Kids will get an email from the teacher with all the key info, plus an 11-digit meeting ID that you just click or tap to get into the class. You can use almost any device, including a phone (so long as it has a camera) to download Zoom from the company's Download Center, iTunes, or Google Play. The basic, free version of Zoom offers lots of options, such as the ability to wordlessly signal to the teacher that you have a question, brainstorm on a virtual whiteboard, and collaborate on projects by annotating documents on other students' screens. Kids can use it to attend online classes, visit virtually with friends and relatives, and even join remote events like birthday parties. Zoom is a video-chatting tool similar to Skype and Google Hangouts.
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Should I be worried about Zoom's privacy? What is Zoom? What are the safest settings for Zoom meetings? If your kid is using Zoom, learn more about its key features and how to help kids use it as safely as possible.ĭoes my kid have to have a Zoom account to use it for class? Like it or not, the program's simple setup, ability to accommodate 100 participants at once, and cost (free) mean Zoom is here to stay. Many families were thrown into Zoom world before thoroughly understanding its value as an educational tool or its student privacy policies. When the coronavirus pandemic caused global shutdowns in 2020, over 90,000 schools in over 20 countries all started "zooming" practically overnight. Though its collaboration features were designed to connect remote office workers, they translate amazingly well to online learning.
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With a zippy name and cool features, Zoom has been the video-meeting software of choice for many businesses since it launched in 2013.
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