Getting Started with Zoom
Zoom is a free to use instant messaging and web conferencing tool used by Athens State University for students, staff, and faculty to quickly and easily communicate back with one another. Zoom meetings using free accounts are limited to the number of possible participants and the duration of the meeting. For specifics on these limitations, please see Basic (Free) Plan under the Zoom Pricing site. The free account is ideal for various situations including impromptu meetings, and joining an instructor's virtual office hours.
How to Create a Zoom Account
Installing the Zoom Instant Messenger
Windows
macOS
Adding or Locating a Zoom Contact
Instant Messaging in Zoom
How to Create a Zoom Account
To create your free Zoom account visit https://www.zoom.us and click on the “Sign Up, It’s Free” button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
You may be asked to enter your date of birth by using the drop-down boxes. Afterward, click Continue.
Complete the sign-up process described throughout Zoom using either your Athens State University address or preferred email address.
Note: It is preferred to use your Athens State University email address to connect with other Athens State University students, faculty, and staff.
You may be presented with a Captcha security check. Select all squares as instructed – be aware that some squares can refresh after selection with a new image and may or may not fit the requirements for selection again.
During the sign-up process, you will have a confirmation email sent to the email account you are using to sign up.
Check your email for the message from Zoom
Click on ACTIVATE ACCOUNT
You will then be asked to input your name and create a password before you can continue.
Zoom will prompt you to “Invite Friends”. You do not need to fill out anything on this page. Click the “Skip This Step” button.
When prompted, click “Start Meeting” to download and install the instant messenger tool. See Installing the Zoom Instant Messenger for further instructions on how to do this.
Installing the Zoom Instant Messenger
Windows
You will need to create a Zoom account in order to be able to use the Instant Messenger tool. Once you have an account, to download and install the Instant Messaging tool, complete the following steps:
Visit https://www.zoom.us and login to Zoom by clicking the “Sign In” button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
Once logged in, click “Host a Meeting” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Then select “With Video Off”.
When prompted, save the file. Then run the file to install the Zoom application on your computer.
Zoom should automatically open upon installation. It may open up displaying the meeting scheduler or instantly place you in a meeting. If either of these opened on your computer, then the application has installed successfully. You can then close the program.
NOTE: If the program did not automatically open after installation, search for “Zoom” on your computer or an icon of a white video camera in a blue circle. Select that icon to launch the program.
For future uses of the Zoom Instant Messenger tool, search for “Zoom” on your computer or an icon of a white video camera in a blue circle. Select that icon to launch the program.
macOS
You will need to create a Zoom account in order to be able to use the Instant Messenger tool. Once you have an account, to download and install the Instant Messaging tool, complete the following steps:
Visit https://www.zoom.us and login to Zoom by clicking the “Sign In” button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
Once logged in, click “Host a Meeting” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Then select “With Video Off”.
The installation file will download. Locate and run the Zoom.pkg file.
The software will extract and the installer will run. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation.
You can select to move the Zoom installer to the Trash once installation has completed.
Zoom should automatically open upon installation. You may need to give permission for Zoom to utilize your microphone and camera.
Zoom may open up displaying the meeting scheduler or instantly place you in a meeting. If either of these opened on your computer, then the application has installed successfully. You can then close the program.
NOTE: If the program did not automatically open after installation, search for “Zoom” on your computer or an icon of a white video camera in a blue circle. Select that icon to launch the program.
For future uses of the Zoom Instant Messenger tool, search for “Zoom” on your computer or an icon of a white video camera in a blue circle. Select that icon to launch the program.
Adding or Locating a Zoom Contact
You will need to create a Zoom account and install the Zoom Instant Messenger in order to be able to add students, instructors, support services, and other contacts at Athens State University to the instant messaging tool. Once you installed the Zoom Instant Messenger tool, manage your contact list by completing the following steps:
Open the Zoom Instant Messenger tool and login. Once you have logged in, the tool should appear on the screen.
To add or locate a contact, click the “Contacts” tab.
You will see multiple groups the first time you log in:
Starred: You can add a current contact to your Starred contacts by right clicking on their name and select “Add to Favorites”
External Contacts: These are contacts that you have manually added by either sending them a notice to be added or if they have sent you a notice to be added.
Apps: Applications added from the Zoom marketplace.
Cloud Contacts: Contacts added from another cloud-based address book such as your Google contacts.
To add a contact, you will need to click plus sign at the top beside the Channels tab and select Invite a Zoom Contact.
When prompted, enter the email address of the individual you wish to add and click “Invite”.
A notice will be sent to user the next time they launch Zoom Instant Messenger notifying them that you wish to add them.
The invited contact will appear as Pending in your contacts list.
Their Zoom application will alert them about the contact request. This is what you will see if someone sends you an invitation.
Clicking on the request will allow the recipient to accept the contact.
After selecting Accept, Zoom will inform the recipient that their status will be visible to the contact.
Once they accept, you will receive a notice and the contact will appear in the External Contacts group without the Pending note.
You may now click on that contact to initiate an instant message text chat or video call meeting.
NOTE: Canvas Courses and Emails from Advisers are common places to locate various email addresses to use when add Zoom contacts.
Instant Messaging in Zoom
You will need to have installed the Zoom Instant Messenger and located / added contacts in order to be able send a contact an instant message. Once you have completed the above two requirements, you can send instant messages by completing the following steps:
Open the Zoom Instant Messenger tool and login. Once you have logged in, the tool should appear on the screen.
To view your groups and contacts, click “Contacts”.
Locate the contact you wish to communicate with in your contact list.
Determine whether or not the contact is currently available for chat by looking at the icon next to their name. If there is a green dot or rectangle at the top right of their avatar, the contact has a high probability of being available for instant messaging. Gray dots or rectangles denote that the contact is currently away and may not respond quickly.
Click on the contact and select the chat option (either beside their name or below it in the main window.) Begin typing your message in the chat portion at the bottom of the window. Hit enter on the keyboard to send your message.
If the individual on the receiving end is available for chat, they will begin talking back and forth with you on the chat screen. Send message back to the individual by typing in the chat area and hitting enter as you did to initiate the conversation.