Mrs. D’s Directions for Award‐Winning Zoom Meetings You all know that I believe in active learning and letting students move around during class. Sadly, with Zoom meetings everyone is on camera all the time and we are forced to watch everyone all at once. That much visual input makes it hard to pay attention. Certain behaviors make it more difficult for other students to concentrate. Here are some rules and tips for respecting fellow students and not disrupting class. Safety First No Strangers on the Set: Use your own name as your Zoom screen name. No one will be admitted to my classes unless I know who they are. You will be stuck in the waiting room until you change your name, reply to the chat message I send you, or text me. There are no exceptions to this policy. If you must use an alternative screen name, send it to me so I will know it is you. Acting Tips or How to Avoid Causing a Flop Places, Please Sit in a non‐swivel chair at a desk or table. Sitting on beds, lying down, or going outside make it hard for you not to swivel, bounce, squirm, or move away from the camera. And that makes it distracting for others. I know you can sit at a table because you’ve done it all year in class. If you do need to move, have a fidget toy in your hands, but keep it below the level of the camera so we can’t see it. No Shaky Camera Technique Keep the device camera in a fixed position (in one place). This is especially important for mobile devices – set them up where the camera can see you and don’t move them! Moving screens and shifting camera views are extremely disruptive to class. The exception to this is if you need to move due to a computer or signal problem. We Are NOT Ready for Your Closeup Please sit at a consistent, appropriate distance from the camera. Ideally, this means that everyone can see your entire head and at least part of your shoulders. Leaning into the camera for "close ups" is disruptive. Stay in the Shot We want to see your smiling face in class, not an artistic view of your ceiling, your backyard, or your poster collection. Also, if you have to leave, please message me and return as soon as possible. Quiet on the Set If there is background noise in your house, please keep your audio off unless you are talking. We think your pets and baby siblings are adorable and we love your taste in music. We might even be interested in that argument we overhear. But with lots of people on Zoom it can get overwhelming. Can I Get Better Lighting? If possible, sit in a well‐lit area, but without bright lights directly behind you. Lighting from above or in front of you works well. Test your video to see if we can see your beautiful face clearly, not just your shadow. Although shadows are great for scary films, it is disconcerting to interact with them in class. Thanks for making this a good experience for everyone. As far as I’m concerned, you are all stars!