Zoom

This blog entry is about a tool in Dr. Wang's PPT about previous T3PP results. Specifically Zoom in the Top 15 Software mentioned by Secondary Teachers list. I was particularly interested in this tool because it was reported by MANY teachers in both the elementary and secondary teachers results. This tool definitely connects to the C part of the TLC framework that we have discussed in class (Communication).

I have utilized Zoom previously for various events, and it was very popular during COVID when students had to do online learning. It is a tool used for video calls/meetings. To join a meeting you simply enter a "Meeting ID" or click a specific link to join, and sign in to your account. It is free to make an account, although I think there's options to pay to upgrade to allow for more minutes per meeting.

I also have utilized Zoom as a student for a purpose other than video calls. I have used it to record myself teaching lessons because it has the option to screen share. This is a great feature because whether its an assignment like in my situation, or a meeting like it's intended use, you can share your computer screen to show various websites/presentations/videos. There is also the option to record these meetings so you can have others watch it even after the meeting is completed.

Overall, I think this tool is relatively easy to use. It might take a second to learn how to navigate the website/app, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty simple.

It seems like this tool has a decent amount of versatility. Not only can it be used for meetings of any kind, but also for recording presentations, or screensharing while presenting.

And finally, I think the overall likelihood of using this tool in my classroom depends on the need. If I have absent students, or we run into a situation similar to COVID then I could see it being utilized. Also if I need to conduct parent teacher conferences and they are unavailable to come to my classroom, it could be very useful then as well!