Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing service. It includes numerous features to optimise the remote experience, including whiteboards, participation by attendees, screen-sharing, and video recording.

When to use Zoom

At UCT, Zoom was initially used for teaching, while for meetings and other collaborative work, Microsoft Teams was preferred. Teams is available to all staff members and students and offers similar functionality.

However, Teams has now become UCT's preferred virtual classroom solution, as it provides a wider range of features and is well integrated with the next Learning Management System – Amathuba. Those preferring to use Zoom will need to purchase their licence from departmental funds.

Zoom is suitable for various levels of online teaching – from small, collaborative classes, all the way up to large classes where you require student interaction.

Although the technology allows lectures to continue online, you need to  consider whether this kind of setup is necessary for your classes. Many students may not have access to the necessary bandwidth to access live online lectures – as Zoom (and other video conferencing services) are not zero-rated by South Africa’s mobile network providers.

For guidance on how to best adapt your teaching for remote learning, see the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching’s guides:

Features

  • Flexible presentation: You can present from your PC or laptop, Mac, or mobile device (Android or iOS).
  • Live videos: Conduct events for small or large audiences, with up to 300 interactive participants. In addition to the live video of the presenter, you can also use a whiteboard and share your screen or a specific application. One or more participants can also share their screens to the meeting.
  • Collaborate with others: For small groups, the built-in whiteboard allows participants to annotate content with you. When participants share their screen, they can also allow you to take control of their screen – so you can work in that application on their screen. Participants can also take control of your screen if you allow it.
  • Audio only: Sessions can also be conducted via audio only –without visuals.
  • Instant messaging: Text messaging or chat is included, either within the whole group or privately between presenter and an individual participant.
  • Secure: Access to each meeting or session is controlled via a link and a password which you send to participants.
  • Distraction-free: You can mute the microphones of participants when you need to explain something without interruptions.
  • Video recording: Sessions can be recorded for participants to access afterwards. You can record to your computer or device, or to your Zoom account in the cloud.

A word of caution

Video conferencing services – like Zoom – became particular popular during the pandemic. This made such services a lucrative target for scammers, who operate in areas that may give them the highest returns. Zoom’s rapid rise in popularity, for example, has put it under the spotlight with numerous security-related issues being raised. The company rolled out several changes to address these issues, and continues to work on improving the service’s privacy and security.

If you use Zoom with Vula integration for virtual classroom teaching, note that our user instructions include vendor-recommended best practices on how to stay safe. We recommend that you apply all these measures if you are using the platform.

There are noted concerns that have been published about a variety of video and web conferencing tools e.g. Zoom, Cisco WebEx, MS Teams, etc. There's no video conferencing service that is absolutely safe or private – in much the same way that there is no operating system that can claim to be bug-free or completely safe either. What we advocate is that you always follow the vendor-provided privacy and safety guidelines, and general best practices for safe and secure video conferencing.

Technology requirements

Both presenters and participants need a reliable internet connection suitable for their needs:

For lecturers: How to set up Zoom for teaching at UCT

To minimise delays at the time of your lectures, please follow these instructions well in advance of your class.

Step 1: Set up your UCT Zoom account and install the application

  1. In a browser, visit https://uct-za.zoom.us.
  2. Click Sign in.
  3. A UCT Single Sign-On page opens.
  4. Log in using your UCT credentials:
    • Username: UCT username@wf.uct.ac.za
    • Password: UCT password

      * Note: If your UCT account is set up with multi-factor authentication, authenticate the sign-in using your chosen method (i.e. authentication app or SMS token).
  5. If you already have a Zoom account that uses your UCT email address, you will be asked whether you want to merge that personal account with a UCT account. Agree to the merge. (Note that this merge is a once-off step. You won’t need to do it again in future.)
  6. Your UCT-linked Zoom account is now set up. A Zoom page opens, showing the details of your UCT-linked Zoom profile.
  7. Open the Zoom application. (If you have not yet installed it, do so from the official source).
  8. In the application, select Sign In with SSO.
  9. In the Company Domain text box, enter: uct-za then click Continue.
  10. In your browser, a window opens asking whether you want to open the Zoom application. Click Open Zoom.
  11. The Zoom application is opened on your device and you are signed in with your UCT-linked Zoom account.
  12. Proceed to step 2 (Add Zoom to your Vula course site).

Important: Your meetings will be limited to 40 minutes and 300 participants. If you require longer meeting times, apply for a UCT Zoom account then activate your licenced UCT Zoom account.

Activate your licenced UCT Zoom account

If you only need to attend Zoom meetings, or you want to host Zoom meetings that fall within the 40-minute standard limit, you don’t need a licenced UCT account. You can proceed with the standard account described above.

However, if you need the additional time for meetings:

  1. Apply for a licenced UCT Zoom account.
  2. Once ICTS sends you an email confirming that your licenced UCT account has been approved, open Zoom and sign out of your existing account.
  3. In a browser, visit https://uct-za.zoom.us 
  4. Click Sign in.
  5. A UCT Single Sign-On page opens.
  6. Log in using your UCT credentials:
    • Username: UCT username@wf.uct.ac.za
    • Password: UCT password

      * Note: If your UCT account is set up with multi-factor authentication, authenticate the sign-in using your chosen method (i.e. authentication app or SMS token).
  7. You will be asked whether you want to merge your existing account with a UCT account. Agree to the merge. (Note that this merge is a once-off step. You won’t need to do it again in future.)
  8. Your UCT-linked Zoom account is now set up. A Zoom page opens, showing the details of your UCT-linked Zoom profile.
  9. Open the Zoom application. (If you have not yet installed it, do so from the official source).
  10. In the application, select Sign In with SSO.
  11. In the Company Domain text box, enter: uct-za then click Continue.
  12. In your browser, a window opens asking whether you want to open the Zoom application. Click Open Zoom.
  13. The Zoom application is opened on your device and you are signed in with your UCT-linked Zoom account.
  14. Proceed to step 2 (Add Zoom to your Vula course site).

Step 2: Add Zoom to your Vula course site

Follow these instructions to add Zoom to your Vula course site.

Step 3: Schedule and conduct your lectures

  1. If you will be presenting from a computer or device other than the one used when you set up, please:
  2. Follow these instructions to schedule and conduct lectures online.

Also note that Vula Site owners and support staff can host meetings in course sites.

For students: How to access a Zoom room for a class

Students don’t need a Zoom account to access the lecture and can access lectures from either a computer or a mobile device.

If you will be accessing the lecture via a computer, you don’t need to install the Zoom application, as you can join the lecture via a web browser. However, it’s preferable to install the application as this will give you additional functionality.

If you will access lectures via a mobile device, you need to install the Android or iOS Zoom app.

After doing so, follow these instructions to access your online lectures online.

Need help?

Please review the above-mentioned instructions for using Zoom at UCT.

Other resources