There is this growing trend called “Zoombombing” that is happening across the internet.  Basically, people are joining Zooms that they find the meeting number for and take over the screen share and show crude and inappropriate images and sounds.  This mostly happens with Zoom meetings that share their meeting number or join URL in a public space.  The following tips will help you avoid this experience and also allow a greater control over your Zoom experience.


We encourage faculty to take these steps to protect their Zoom classrooms:

 

  • Do not share links to your Zoom sessions publicly. Zoom links shared within Schoology are most secure.

  • Instruct students not to share Zoom links with anyone outside of SMHS.


Good settings to have:

  1. Log in to your Zoom account at https://zoom.us

  2. On the left-hand menu, selecting “Settings”

    1. There are a lot of settings, scroll down and find the following options:

  • Join before host = OFF

  • Mute participants upon entry = Consider if you want students to be able to start talking at the start of meeting or not.

  • Chat = Recommend OFF if you don’t want chat to be a distraction

  • Private chat = OFF

  • File transfer = Recommend OFF

  • Allow host to put attendee on hold = ON

  • Screen Sharing > Who can Share = Host Only

  • Allow removed participants to rejoin = Recommend OFF

  • Attention tracking = ON

  • Waiting room = Consider ON depending on the nature of your meeting 

    • (It’s important to understand how this feature works. Participants will need to be admitted before they are part of the meeting.)

  • Many of these settings can be changed at the time you setup your meeting or in the meeting once it’s started



While in a Zoom Meeting:

  • Using Zoom host controls, once you’ve started your Zoom meeting:

    1. Click Manage Participants at the bottom of the zoom meeting window

    2. In the Participants window, click More in the lower right corner

      • Allow participants to unmute themselves = Recommend OFF when you want to control who speaks and when.

      • Lock meeting – This setting will prevent anyone from joining.  Think of it like locking the door once class has started. 

A useful video to watch about Meeting Controls: https://youtu.be/ygZ96J_z4AY