Zoom

After the last two years, is it safe to say that most people in the education system, from elementary-aged students to those in universities, are familiar with Zoom application. The use of Zoom skyrocketed during the pandemic, as it became a means of continuing virtual instruction for millions of people around the world, and it is still being used by many today. Although by the end of the pandemic, many people experienced what is known as "Zoom fatigue," it was an effective platform that enabled the continuity of education in times where much was uncertain.

Guzman, K. (2020). Zoom for Education: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions. Zoom. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://blog.zoom.us/zoom-for-education-top-10-frequently-asked-

About Zoom

Even those who have not personally had to use Zoom, might know of it by now. Zoom is a communication platform that allows users access to video conferencing, live chats, audio calls, webinars, and screen-sharing. While Zoom is comparable to that of Skype, Google Meet, and other communication tools, it became so popular due to its simplicity. Zoom is easy to navigate for both teachers and students, while also accessible from almsot any device without even needing to download the app. The platform is free for K-12 schools and universities which alleviated stress for educators around the world during the pandemic. Zoom also offers features such as "raise your hand," waiting rooms, and live-captioning which make it appealing to use for virtual learning purposes.

"Counting both free and paying users, Zoom has 300 million daily meeting participants. That’s an increase of 2900% since December 31, 2019, when 10 million daily meeting participants logged on." - Brian Dean (2022)

Benefits of Zoom in Education

In a time where social interactions were incredibly low for many, Zoom provided an opportunity for students to communicate and collaborate with one another even if it was through an online format. Holding class on Zoom, allowed teachers and students an alternative to asynchonrous learning where they could engage in learning in a way that differed from written discussion boards on Canvas. This modality became incredibly important for younger students as it provided at least some form of structure during their virtual learning days. Regardless of location, teachers and students could all continue education through Zoom, which allowed for flexibilty when needed.

As opposed to asynchronous instruction, Zoom helped eliminate potential distractions and keep students on track when learning from home. Due to its design, students attention is focused on the teacher, while the teacher can keep track of all of their students. In addition, teachers had the power to mute students or place them into breakout rooms where they could monitor their discussions. Students were less-likely to be distracted by one another and those who feared in-person discussions could have been more comfortable participating online. There are also private or group chat features on Zoom which allowed teachers and students to communicate instructions or ask questions. In a time where in-person isntruction was not possible, Zoom allowed for the closest means of learning to resemble it.

Shirkhoda, R. (2021). Zoom Cares: Supporting Mental Health & Global Connection. Zoom. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://blog.zoom.us/zoom-cares-mental-health-grants/.

Zoom Cares

Another unique aspect to note about Zoom is their creation of Zoom Cares, which is a philanthropic outreach aimed at creating meaningful change when it comes to education, social equity, and climate change. Zoom Cares supports organizations such as the International Society for Technology in Education, The American Heart Association, and Black Lives Matter. The purpose of this social arm is to help create a connected and sustainable world for all individuals. One of the most recognizable efforts made by Zoom Cares is their donation of one million dollars to help bridge the digital divide. The company is partnered with organizations such as the Education Super Highway who work to make technology or internet accessible for all and bring equity to education. Zoom continues to create global change and every year, they produce social impact reports for the public to view.

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References

Richardssays:, S., & Deansays:, B. (2022, January 6). Zoom user stats: How many people use zoom in 2022? Backlinko. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://backlinko.com/zoom-users

Shirkhoda, R. (2021, April 27). Announcing our first zoom cares social impact report. Zoom Blog. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://blog.zoom.us/zoom-cares-social-impact-report/

Video conferencing, web conferencing, webinars, screen sharing. Zoom Video. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://explore.zoom.us/docs/en-us/education.html