Instructional Tech Improvements for Spring 2021

To take advantage of these latest Zoom improvements, make sure to update your Zoom software to the latest version. For more information on how to do this, please see How to Update a Computer's Zoom Software Version.

Zoom Classroom Improvements

Co-hosts can initiate and run breakout rooms as long as the meeting's primary host is connected to the meeting from a computer. If the Zoom Classroom is the primary host of the meeting, Faculty or will need to reclaim the host rights.
- For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, please see How Do I Start a Breakout Room in a Zoom Classroom?

Teaching Assistants can be made co-hosts for Zoom Meetings. Please contact IT for more information on how to take advantage of this feature.

Zoom Classrooms can now join breakout rooms. Some implications include:

All direct interaction with students can happen through the Zoom Classroom, though if the professor doesn't have a TA who can cohost, they may need to join the meeting on their computer to initiate the breakout room.
Sound feedback issues can be eliminated since professors won't need to connect sound or video when joining the Zoom Meeting on their computer.

Hosts can pre-assign Zoom Classrooms to any breakout room, just like they can pre-assign students.

IT disabled the Zoom Meeting “auto-start” feature for Zoom Classrooms. Instead, we enabled a new feature called Zoom Classroom Manual Join. This means that if professors are teaching from home they won’t need to remove the Zoom Classroom from the meeting.

Enabled Zoom Classroom reference monitors to show 49 participants instead of 25.

Enabled non-verbal feedback as a default for all Faculty accounts (e.g. raise hand or emotes). If desired, this setting can be turned off on your user profile settings page.

Podium Upgrades

IT and Events Services are installing new USB-C to HDMI + Ethernet adapters in all classroom podiums. These multi-port adapters will ensure that computers with USB-C ports will automatically connect to the wired internet & HDMI at the same time, through one adapter. Wired Ethernet connections provide maximum internet stability. Most Biola laptops purchased in the last 3.5 years have a USB-C port.

In response to some stability issues experienced with Zoom Classrooms and existing classroom technology last semester, IT and Events Services upgraded the firmware and software on the major classroom tech components. We expect this will improve reliability.

Student Account Management

Biola IT took steps to ensure that all students will be able to access their course's Zoom Meetings and recordings if they are using a Biola associated Zoom account. Additionally, students will need to join the Zoom Meeting for all scheduled courses with their Biola Zoom account. There are three main implications:

Professors can more easily use their class roster to pre-assign breakout rooms.
Students can access course recordings through Canvas without seeing a permissions error.
Eliminates the risk of anonymous Zoom bombing.