Zoom

Zoom is a reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems.

Getting an account

Zoom is available to all MIT community members with an MIT Kerberos ID and the ability to authenticate with Touchstone.

Installing Software

Download the appropriate Zoom software for your computer or device.

Signing in

• Open the Zoom application
• Click ‘Sign in with SSO’
• In Company Domain, enter: MIT
• Result: You are prompted to authenticate with MIT Touchstone.
• Authenticate with MIT Touchstone.
• Result: You are logged in and Zoom opens. You’re ready to start, join or schedule meetings.

Create a Meeting

There are two ways you can start a meeting depending on whether you wish to host a meeting immediately, or schedule a meeting for later.

Host a Meeting (start a meeting immediately)

• Sign in to https://mit.zoom.us with your MIT Touchstone/Kerberos account
• To start a meeting immediately, click ‘Host’ , ‘Start without video’, ‘Start with video’ button, or ‘Screen Share’, depending on your needs.
• Click the ‘Invite’ button at the bottom of the meeting window. You can invite attendees from the search list, or you can share the invitation in a few different ways:
  • Clicking the Copy URL button, then paste the URL into an email message to the participants you wish to invite.
  • Click the Copy invitation button, then paste the message into an email to the participants you wish to invite.
  • Click one of the email service buttons. Your chosen email service will appear with a preformatted invitation.

Schedule a Meeting

• Sign in to https://mit.zoom.us with your MIT Touchstone/Kerberos account
• Click ‘Schedule’
• There are many meeting options, most are dependent on your preferences and schedule, but some to consider are:
  • Allowing video for host and participant
  • Enable join before host
  • Enable waiting room
• From here, you can either choose to invite others via calendar invitation or you can copy the invitation text and then paste that into an email, chat message, etc.
• For more details, please see Zoom’s official documentation on Scheduling a Meeting

Join a meeting

To join a meeting, you can either join from an invitation, or from a Meeting ID.

• If you have Zoom installed, joining from an invitation will be automatic when clicking on the link. You do not need an account to join a meeting
• If you have a meeting ID You do not need an account to join a meeting
  • Click ‘Join’
  • Enter the meeting ID number and your display name.

Limiting Access and Reducing Disruptive Behavior in Zoom

To reduce disruption to your Zoom sessions from those who are not the intended invitees, MIT strongly recommends the following guidelines for all MIT Zoom meeting hosts

Zoom Rooms

Zoom Rooms is a Zoom software based room system combined with Zoom certified hardware that provides a seamless, integrated experience for audio conferencing, wireless screen sharing, and video conferencing. Zoom Rooms can be used for room-only attendees, or remote attendees joining from another room, from their desktop, or from their mobile device.

Zoom Rooms is deployed in all CSAIL conference and seminar rooms.

Tips

• Mute your microphone when you’re not talking.
• Mind your background and backlight in your video frame.
• Headphones are helpful in noisy areas
• Meeting organizers should consider starting the meeting 15 minutes early to give folks a little extra time to connect.