Lots of exciting updates have been happening or will be coming very soon with Zoom. Make sure you keep your Zoom client updated regularly to access these awesome features that will really engage your learners.

Here is my #1 which I know many of our teachers will love as this as this has been highlighted as somewhat of a challenge in our online classes - you can now screen share to breakout rooms. 

If you like to annotate on your shared screen there is now a vanishing pen feature where the marks disappear after a few seconds. This is tool is useful to draw attention to things you want your learners to notice on the screen, without cluttering up the screen when you want to make more annotations or if you later want to save them.

Users can now request the host provide a live transcription of the meeting. This creates Closed Caption subtitles on the screen. You will need to take care to speak clearly to ensure reasonable accuracy. Another update our teachers are going to love is the new In Meeting Apps functionality. You will now be able to use your favourite tools such as Kahoot, Mentimeter, Miro or Asana from your Zoom meeting controls.

Immersive view creates a feeling of being together on the screen. This is where you can create a background which you all sit within. I am sure our teachers will think of innovative ways to use this in their teaching, where the concept of space and positioning of our learners can support learning in the virtual classroom. (This will enable something as simple as being able to point to one another and know you are all looking at the same person.) 

These features are very exciting and will only improve over time as the technology develops. Thanks to our Zoom providers ConnectNZ and Sammy for sharing these latest updates so we can make the most of Zoom in our teaching and learning. Watch this space for Sammy's next workshop for teachers.