Zoom made a number of significant upgrades to their virtual meeting platform in response to global needs for virtual teaching, learning and meetings. As you begin classes this year, upgrade your Zoom client on your desktop and mobile devices so you can have the best experience and enjoy these new, innovative features.
Display your Pronouns
Beginning this summer, you can add your pronouns directly to your UW–Madison Zoom account profile. You can show attendees how you would like to be referred to in class, in online discussions and meetings, or anywhere else Zoom displays your name and pronouns.
- View step-by-step directions on how to change your pronouns on Zoom.
- If you use the Zoom desktop client—the Zoom application installed on your computer—you must update to version 5.7.0 or later to display your pronouns in meetings.
Focus mode
Focus mode is designed with the digital learning environment in mind, allowing students to stay attentive or work on their tasks while under supervision, without being distracted by others and their tasks. This feature gives the host and co-hosts view of all participants’ videos – including screen-sharing – without other participants seeing each other. This option is great for proctoring or other situations where the instructor needs to see students, but students don’t need to see each other.
- This feature requires desktop version 5.7.3 or higher.
- Learn more about the Focus feature on Zoom.
Breakout rooms
Breakout rooms allow you to split your Zoom meeting in up to 50 separate sessions. The meeting host can choose to split the participants of the meeting into these separate sessions automatically or manually, or they can allow participants to select and enter breakout sessions as they please. In addition, the host can switch between sessions at any time. Another new option is the ability for instructors and hosts to share their screen across all breakout rooms.
- This feature requires all hosts and attendees to use Zoom desktop version 5.3 or higher.
- Learn more about enabling breakout rooms in Zoom.
- Learn more about managing screen sharing and breakout rooms in Zoom.
Post-meeting survey
As the meeting host, you can schedule a survey to be sent to participants when your meeting ends. Afterwards, you can download the survey responses as a report to simplify feedback collection. If you want to collect feedback during a meeting, you can create a meeting poll. You can also schedule a survey to be sent to attendees after hosting a Zoom webinar.
Request live transcription as participant
Participants of your meetings and webinars can also request to have live transcription enabled during the session. This option is available in the meeting controls, and avoids the need to request this verbally or through chat to avoid interruptions.
- This feature requires Zoom version 5.0.2 or higher on all devices.
- Learn more about requesting live transcription in meetings.
If you want to implement these changes and have a UW-managed computer, please check with your unit’s IT team to see how software updates are provided. If you have any other questions, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.