BU Student Creates Zoom Manual for Online Classes
Metropolitan College’s Fundamentals of Creative Development class uses Zoom to watch a lecture. Photo by Dave McDonald
Students, Stumped by Zoom? Check This Out
CAS sophomore creates easy-to-understand FAQ manual for online classes
As Boston University progresses through its first week of remote classes, Zoom’s videoconferencing software has become one of the most popular platforms professors are using for their lectures and class discussions. There have been a few hiccups along the way as faculty and students try to get acclimated to the new system.
If Zoom has you stumped, you’re in luck: a College of Arts & Sciences sophomore has come to the rescue (he has asked to remain anonymous, perhaps because of his use of colorful language). He’s sharing a Google Doc he created that answers frequently asked questions about the software and walks users through how to install and use it on their computers. Called, “Zoom Zoom Zoom, Bitches,” the Google Doc has approximately 60 users accessing it at any given time.
“You will be using this software for the next month or two or however many minutes you have left until COVID-19 takes over,” the sophomore writes in his intro. “If you made it this far, congratulations, you’re still susceptible to contracting the virus (so please socially distance yourself).”
In this informal guide to the third-party software, he gives pointers on how to install Zoom, troubleshooting tips, how to navigate its features, how to use it in conjunction with BlackBoard, and perhaps most important, how to set a virtual background (a beach in Maui, anyone?).
While BU’s Information Services & Technology team is working overtime to answer any and all distance learning questions, the CAS student sees his tutorial as another helpful resource.
“I’m glad people are finding the manual helpful and useful,” he says. “The idea behind making the guide was to reach out to as many students as possible. Much of the guide was to keep students entertained and provide some lighthearted humor in this rather dark time.”
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