ZOOM
Synopsis
ZOOM Meetings is a video conferencing software.
It permits up to 100 concurrent participants on its free plan, with a 40-minute time restriction.
Users have the option to upgrade by subscribing to a paid plan. The highest plan supports up to 1,000 concurrent participants for meetings lasting up to 30 hours.
Main features:
- Simple interface and usability, regardless of technological expertise.
- Possibility to conduct:
- one-on-one meetings (face to face interaction),
- group video conferences (meetings with many people, with the possibility to separate them into different sub-groups),
- Webinars (Webinars are designed so that the host and any designated panelists can share their video, audio and screen with view-only attendees. Attendees have the ability to interact via Q&A, chat, and answering polling questions. The host can also unmute the attendees).
- Main options:
- Screen sharing,
- Plugins,
- Browser extensions,
- Ability to record meetings and have them automatically transcribed,
- Selection of a virtual background,
- Transcription service (payment service).
- Free use for video conferences of up to 100 participants at once, with a 40-minute time limit.
- For longer or larger conferences with more features, paid subscriptions are available. Features geared towards business conferences, such as Zoom Rooms, are also available.
- Compatible with all operative systems (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, and Linux).
- Security features:
- Password-protected meetings
- User authentication
- Waiting rooms
- Locked meetings
- Disabling participant screen sharing
- Randomly generated IDs
- Ability for the host to remove disruptive attendees
- End-to-end encryption
- Other options:
- Availability for domestic telephone service in 40 countries
- Features to make the app easier to use for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired
- Ability to move around video windows in gallery view, pin video windows to be spotlighted; improved keyboard shortcuts; new tools to adjust the size of closed captioning text; and sign language interpreters’ windows can now sit directly next to the speaker
- Focus Mode. It is designed for use in digital classrooms and other educational settings. When active, the mode will hide participants’ screens from each other (though they can see each other’s names) while the host retains the ability to see everyone’s camera stream or screen share
- Captions: Option to automatically generate closed captions in English for Zoom meetings was expanded to all accounts, including free ones
- Gesture recognition
- Virtual whiteboard
Target Audience
Any participant in a dynamic and collaborative training session (students, youth workers, trainers…).
Goals
Facilitate remote interaction and communication between different participants.
Skills developed
- Communication
- Accessible and inclusive digital interaction
- Cooperation & Teamwork
- Problem-solving (through brainstorming)
- Management & Organization
Why is it a good practice in the digital area?
- It is noted for its simple interface and usability, regardless of technological expertise.
- Use of the platform is free for video conferences of up to 100 participants at once, with a 40-minute time limit.
- It permits training under an online context (e.g, pandemic restrictions)
- It permits the recording of the session so that it can be easily shared with participants.
- It permits that participants can take part as participatory or / and as attendees.
Training Team
One manager of the meeting / webinar, who will coordinate the session, fostering the participation of the rest of the people taking part in the activity.
The training activity can be implemented under different formats:
- 100% online.
- Hybrid, with some participants physically attending and others via online.
Duration proposed
Any duration, as it will depend on the purpose of the meeting/training session (It permits on its free plan up to 100 concurrent participants, with a 40-minute time restriction).
Promoting Organization
Zoom Video Communications, Inc
Starting Year
2011
