How to use Zoom

(For daylongs and weekly Ecodharma courses but some of these instructions apply to multi-day retreats as well)

If you are new to Zoom, we suggest you download Zoom first. Registering for a Zoom account is free, makes participation in the daylong easier and makes assigning of breakout groups easier for course facilitators. Register for a free account at https://zoom.us/signup. Then, you can watch a few short tutorial videos at https://zoom.us/resources.

Please re-start your computer if Zoom is giving you problems. Most Zoom issues solve themselves if you do that.

Please test your system on the device you are going to use prior to the daylong so you can focus on the content and not worry about tech issues. It is harder to navigate the zoom platform on a small screen.  We highly encourage the use of laptops or tablets instead of smart phones. 

If you are joining from a country/region where internet speed is slow, please test your options for joining audio stream via your phone (link). This will ensure that you are able to hear us and we will be able to hear you better even if your video connectivity is poor.   

We’ll open up a Zoom Tech Check 30 minutes before the first session for anyone who is new and wants to test their system and get some assistance if things are not working. This will go until 15 minutes before the session starting time and then we’ll close the session and you can rejoin a few minutes before the gathering starts. We are offering this because we will not be able to offer personalized tech support during the actual session.

When joining the session, please type in your full real name (the name you’ve used to register) so we can identify you, allow you permissions to access the breakout groups, and call on you by name if you raise your hand to ask a question or make a comment during the program. You may also type in your first name and last initial on your Zoom video screen, add the place you are calling from and add a gender pronoun (she/they/he) if you wish. Instructions can be found here.

We welcome you to be fully present with your camera on, as it strengthens the sense of community. However, if you need to go to another room, tend to other matters which include movement, please turn your video camera off so it is not distracting for others.

If the internet connection available to you is not capable of videoconferencing, you may dial in from a telephone instead. However, please note that if you are calling in you may not be able to ask a question or make a comment during the daylong.