Cameras, ring lights, microphones? Like many colleagues, I have been frequently asked of late about the gear that I use for research seminars and lectures on Zoom.
Truth be told, although it helps a bit and is also fun, gear is ultimately secondary. If there has been one key learning for me personally from this pandemic, it is that it matters how we approach each other online.
Honestly, especially at the end of 2020, the well-meant "hey, we encourage you to have your camera on," that's just torture. Please let people participate without video if they choose not to show up on cam. It's really not your call.
— Markus Giesler (@DrGiesler) December 10, 2020
Ask yourself: what impact does the language I use, the requirements I formulate, and the elements of myself and my space that I share on Zoom have on others (e.g., students, colleagues, clients)?
That said, here is my current Zoom setup.
Over here, you can find a few ideas I have written down on how to improve your Zoom delivery.
@DrGiesler what was the software you used for screen sharing when you were a guest speaker in our class on Monday?
— Marina Byezhanova (@VoiceOfaLeader) February 4, 2021
One question that has come up a lot is what tool I use to create these transparent overlays on Zoom. Instead of PowerPoint (which is useful too), I am using a software for Apple Mac computers called Ecamm Live.
For me personally, and given the subjects I teach, Ecamm Live is more effective than slides, but that’s just my choice. If you are interested in learning more about Ecamm Live, have a look over here (affiliate link).
Make sure to ask your colleagues about what works for them. From my friend and fellow JCR editor June Cotte, for instance, I recently learned how to use your iPad as a green-screen-enabled whiteboard in Ecamm Live.
Finally, here is a bit more information about my Schulich MBA elective course Customer Experience Design, which I taught entirely on Zoom this past fall.
That’s all I have on Zoom. What works best for you? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter. Please stay safe and take good care of your own wellbeing and that of your students!
What's your Zoom setup? A post on the gear that I'm using and the lessons that I've learned during the pandemic.https://t.co/6BzaEhLSE3
— Markus Giesler (@DrGiesler) February 6, 2021
