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Information Technology

New features available in Zoom

Summary

A recent update by Zoom now makes it possible to add preferred pronouns to your Zoom profile, enter focus mode during a meeting and set and save a custom gallery view order.

Full Description

Nearly two years into the pandemic, Zoom continues to play an integral part in teaching, learning and working on campus and beyond. W&M IT recently turned on some new features that will enhance our digital learning environment and make it more inclusive.

Adding and sharing your pronouns

Adding the option for people to share more about themselves is important for improving everyone's overall Zoom experience. With the new Pronouns feature, you can add your pronouns directly to you user profile. 

How to add pronouns to your profileExample of Zoom profile back-end for adding pronouns
  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation panel, click Profile.
  3. On the right side of your name, click Edit.
  4. In the Pronouns field, enter your pronouns.
  5. In the How would you like to share your pronouns? drop-down field, choose from the following options:
    • Always share in meetings and webinars: Your pronouns will appear next to your display name automatically in any meetings that you host or join, and any webinars that you’re the host or panelist for.
    • Ask me every time after joining meetings and webinars: You will be asked if you want your pronouns to appear next to your display name in every meeting that you host or join, and any webinars that you’re the host or panelist for.
    • Do not share in meetings and webinars: Your pronouns will not appear next to your display name in any meetings or webinars. You will have to manually choose to share your pronouns.
      Note: Even if you choose not to share your pronouns in meetings or webinars, your pronouns will still appear in your profile card and be visible to your Zoom contacts if you have entered them in the Pronouns field.
  6. Click Save.

Learn more about the Pronouns feature.

Setting a custom gallery view order

When in Gallery view, you can click and drag videos to create a custom video order. Your custom order will be seen only by you, or the host can deploy their custom view to all participants.

How to reorganize the gallery view
  1. Click and drag any participant video to the location on screen you want.
  2. Continue as needed to achieve your desired on-screen order.
  3. (Optional) As the host, click View  to enable or disable these options:
    • Follow Host's Video Order (only available to the host): Force all participants to display your custom video order. Participant will not be able to change the order when this is enabled.
      Note: The custom order will apply to Gallery View and Active Speaker View for participants using the desktop client, mobile app, or Zoom Rooms.
    • Release Video Order: Release the custom order and revert to the default order.

Learn more about setting a custom gallery view. 

How to use focus mode in a meetingExample of focus mode during a meeting

This feature gives the host and co-hosts view of all participants’ videos without other participants seeing each other. This extends into screen sharing, as the host and co-host can view and switch between each participant’s shared screen, while the participants can only view their own content. If the host finds a participant’s content should be shared with others, they can easily begin sharing the participant’s screen with others.

  1. Start a meeting as the host or co-host.
  2. Click More  on the meeting toolbar.
  3. Click Start Focus Mode.
  4. Click Start to confirm, or select the Don’t ask me again check box to skip this confirmation going forward.
  5. When Focus mode begins, you and the participants are notified with a banner along the top of the video window. Additionally, the focus mode  icon is always visible in the top-left corner of the video window, next to the encryption icon, while focus mode is active.

Once Focus mode has been started, participants in focus mode will only see the video of the host, co-hosts, any participants spotlighted by the host, and their own video. They will only see other participants' names, their nonverbal feedback or reactions, and hear them when unmuted.

Learn more about focus mode.

Questions? Contact the Technology Support Center (TSC)
757-221-4357 (HELP) | support@wm.edu | Jones 201, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm