Zoom
Zoom accounts are available to all GW community members, along with the other GW supported web conferencing tools. The University is committed to providing technology options for students, faculty and staff to meet their needs and preferences – providing the right technology tools, for the right use/preference, at the right time. Use our Web Conferencing comparison chart to find which tool works best for your needs.
Click on the Zoom button below to login.
The university-licensed Zoom accounts provide enhanced features, including:
- Video conferencing with high-definition (HD) video, audio and wireless screen-sharing
- Meeting capacity of 300 web/audio/video attendees
- Up to 49 participants/users shown on screen simultaneously in gallery view
- Breakout rooms, view breakout limits here
- Log in through Single Sign-On (SSO) using your GW NetID and password
- Ability to record and store recordings
Are Zoom Meetings Secure?
Yes, when configured properly Zoom meetings are secure. To prevent uninvited guests from entering your Zoom meeting, you can follow these helpful tips from Zoom.
Zoom will soon start requiring that all meetings have a passcode or a waiting room enabled. This additional safety measure is being mandated by Zoom in response to concerns about “zoom-bombing” or "zoom-raiding," which is an unwanted interruption from uninvited members or internet hackers. Read more about Waiting Room and Passcode Requirements to learn more.
Ways to Manage Zoom Interruptions
Zoom-bombing or zoom-raiding is when an unintended person joins a Zoom meeting and causes an interruption. Generally, these are not people from our own community, but are people that intentionally take advantage of misconfigured settings or information that has been shared publicly. Zoom-bombers' primary goal is to disrupt, embarrass, shock, display offensive images and other unacceptable behaviors.
Here are the 5 potential Zoom interruptions, and ways to manage each of them:
- Audio interruptions - unmuting and speaking to the class. Solution: Press Participants, then Mute All. On the pop-up, uncheck "Allow participants to unmute themselves"
- Video interruptions - showing inappropriate video or gestures in a live or virtual background. Solution: When detected, press Participants, select the individual, press Stop Video.
- Chat interruptions - typing something inappropriate or using private chat to harass other students. Solution: Press Chat then the menu (...) on bottom right to manage chat settings.
- Screen share interruptions - sharing inappropriate content with all attendees. Solution: The default is to only allow the host to share. If a non-host needs to share screen, temporarily make them a co-host then remove the privilege when done sharing.
- Annotation interruptions - drawing something inappropriate on the screen during a screen share. Solution: If Annotations are enabled during a screen share, under the Security button, uncheck Annotate on Shared Content.
In open or closed "presentation" meetings, these settings work well. In open "discussion" meetings, some of these settings are challenging to implement. Knowing how to quickly stop an interruption is essential for Hosts and very often overlooked until after an incident occurs.
For events where you are inviting the public, GW's Zoom subscription offers a premium Webinar feature. For public-facing webinars, we recommend requesting this feature because it allows for better security. You can request webinar features for specific events here. Please view this Video for more information on Webinars.
Special Note To GW Course Instructors About Blackboard Collaborate
For synchronous online classes, GW provides faculty with the web conferencing tools Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, and Webex. Both Blackboard Collaborate and Zoom are integrated into Blackboard, allowing course members to seamlessly join live sessions from their Blackboard course. In addition, Blackboard Collaborate and Zoom also provide access to cloud recordings through Blackboard, giving instructors and students easy access to recordings without needing to download and upload recording files.
Alternatively, the Echo360 lecture capture system enables instructors to record their classes live from the classroom or pre-record their lectures using their computer and then automatically post them to Blackboard.
Please remember that Zoom, or any other web conferencing tool, does not replace the Blackboard Learning Management System. Faculty should still use their Blackboard course to deliver syllabi, readings, assessments, and other course materials to students.
Faculty can contact the Instructional Core at [email protected], for assistance with using Blackboard, Echo360, or web conferencing tools.
Zoom Training Resources
To become more familiar with Zoom, explore the links to self-paced resources below. Additional resources will be added, so check back for updates.
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