Basics of Presenting

•     Connection:

  • Test your video and audio before your meeting by creating a meeting or at zoom.us/test.
  • Set-up your virtual background prior to joining as a panelist
    
    

•     Presentation:

  • Before you connect to the Zoom webinar, have the PowerPoint presentation open on your desktop, NOT in presenter mode.
  • Close all other windows/apps, especially mail programs
  • Enable Do Not Disturb on your computer
  • Use dual monitors if possible. With a second monitor, you can host the screen sharing on your primary display and move windows like your participants list, chat, Q&A, and polling to a secondary monitor which will give you a greater ability to track everything at a glance.
  • Use ⌘Cmd+Shift+A (PC: Alt+A) to mute/unmute your audio. You can also unmute yourself by holding down the space bar while you are muted. This can not be done when sharing a presentation as you may skip slides if you are not in the right window
  • Make sure your name is listed correctly a this is what attendees will see. 
  • Set-up a text thread between all panelists so you can communicate throughout the presentation, if needed.
    
    

•  Position

  • Position yourself so that most of the light is coming from in front of you (behind your monitor), instead of behind you. If you have a window behind you, shut the blinds. Otherwise, you will be backlit.
  • Don’t get too close. Position yourself so the camera is seeing you from the chest or waist up, instead of just seeing your face.
  • Make sure you are in a space where you can control noise and interruptions.
  • Unless your appearance or background is very inappropriate or distracting, turn ON your video. Video is crucial in building trust and engagement in virtual communications.
  • Make eye contact. Look at your webcam instead of your screen. This will give the effect of eye contact and visual engagement. Use the gestures and mannerisms that you would typically use in person. If you are viewing the video feed of others, try moving that feed to a monitor position just below your webcam to make this easier.

• Screen Sharing

  • Click on the Share icon, either in the main window or in the control panel. If asked, choose “basic” screen sharing,
  • Select the PowerPoint presentation you wish to display (NOT the “screen” option), this makes sure participants can only see your presentation, nothing else that may be going on with your computer during the presentation.
  • Click Share computer sound during screen sharing: Zoom screen sharing allows you to share the desktop, window, application, or audio/video. You can also send computer audio to the remote attendees when sharing a video or audio clip – no special plugins or cords needed.