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Attending your online class using Zoom

March 17, 2020

Dear Students,

As you know by now, Bentley is teaching all classes online for the rest of the semester. You will therefore be attending your courses remotely using the Zoom web conferencing application.

Link to Join Your Class
Each of your professors will be providing you a ‘join’ link either directly via email or by posting it on your Blackboard course site. You will use these links each week to join your class at its designated time. You will receive one link per course for all remaining sessions of that course. For example, if you are taking five courses, you will use five separate ‘join’ links. You do not need to create a Zoom account to join your class.

All classes will take place on the same day and at the same time (Eastern Standard Time) as they would have normally taken place on campus. However, if you are having issues resulting from differences in time zones, please discuss this with your professor. Prior to the start of classes next week, please contact your professor directly if you did not receive a join link or do not see a link posted in Blackboard.

Please use this link to join from your PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android device. If you do not have reliable internet access please call the Help Desk at 781.891.3122. If you have other concerns about being able to attend class virtually next week, please email your professor directly.

Zoom Testing Before Classes Begin
To help you troubleshoot, test your equipment, or answer any questions you may have about using Zoom, our Technology Assistants will host remote Zoom testing sessions for Bentley Students. All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time:
 

Wednesday 3/18

Thursday 3/19

Friday 3/20

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

9:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

9:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

9:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

 
Click this link to sign up for one of the Zoom testing sessions listed above. Once you have signed up for one of these sessions, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link for your session. Please note that there is a 300-participant limit per session.
 

Things to remember: 

  • Check your Wi-Fi connection prior to the start of class.
  • Select the “computer audio” option when you join your class session.
  • We recommend that you use earbuds or a headset for the best sound as computer speakers can cause feedback.
  • Microphones pick up all ambient noise, so keep your mic muted until it's your time to speak. At the beginning of class, your professor may have muted everyone. This muting avoids feedback.
  • Web cameras: you may be asked to keep your camera on to participate in the class. If you have low bandwidth, please turn off your camera.
  • Join class from a quiet distraction free environment if you can. No matter how many people are in the virtual class, there's probably someone watching your video at all times. Please refrain from distracting activity.
  • Keep a neutral backdrop. This is not always possible so you may want to try ‘virtual background’. The technology allows you to use any photograph as your backdrop.


Important and Helpful Information: 

 
If you run into any issues during your session, please call the helpdesk at 781.891.3122.

Thank you,
Bob

Bob Wittstein
Vice President and Chief Information Officer