Zoom is a video conferencing platform used at Oxford Brookes University for online teaching. You might participate in lectures or seminar-style Zoom meetings with your class, or watch recorded Zoom meetings in your own time. Zoom is used because it has features such as ‘breakout rooms’ to divide classes into small groups that make it suitable for interactive online learning.
Scroll down for our recommended strategies and resources.
Getting a basic familiarity with Zoom is important and IT Services have created training resources to help you make the most of it.
For many Zoom sessions at Brookes, you will need to use your Brookes Zoom ID. Before you can do that, you will need to sign in at least once at the https://brookes.zoom.us/ page.
This quick guide to signing in to lectures and other events at Brookes will help to ensure you don't miss any online events.
IT Services have also produced a whole series of articles on how to use Zoom, which you may find useful both for getting used to how it works and troubleshooting.
For technical help on Zoom or any other IT issues at Brookes, contact the IT service desk.
Although learning via Zoom can seem different or daunting at times, it helps to remember that many of the good principles of studying still apply in these situations. Preparation beforehand, having an aim or idea of what you want to find out, and doing active things like taking notes all help with understanding and concentration whether in person or on Zoom. See our guides below for strategies to help and tips to apply when learning online.
Lecturers say that it is tough to teach when they can’t see how the audience is responding, even if everyone is interested and listening. A few supportive comments or questions in the chat box, or using the thumbs up icon can make a difference. The real value of online learning is in interaction and through being an active learner. See our guide for more on the good principles of online communication.