Teaching simultaneously face to face and via Zoom can present some challenges that are not present when teaching primarily over Zoom without students physically present. This guide is a list of recommendations and considerations to take into account when teaching in a synchronous, hybrid fashion.

Note: If you are teaching in this modality, it may be wise to work with your department to get scheduled into a room that has Zoom capability built-in. Attempting to set up a synchronous hybrid class ad-hoc can be challenging to get right.

Engage with the online students

Remember that the students participating remotely are also "present" in the class and not just passively watching. When asking questions or doing group activities, remember to include the remote participants in the conversation. If doing group work in class, it is best practice to make the online participants a group on their own so they can discuss with other students also participating remotely.

Keep an eye on the participants list or the Zoom chat, just in case the remote students are trying to catch your attention to ask a question, or consider a policy where remote students can interrupt in some way using their microphone if they need to ask a question.

Make sure the remote participants can see

If you are presenting using the projector in the classroom, make sure you have shared your screen with the remote participants so they can see it clearly. Pointing the camera at the projector screen is not as effective as sharing your screen through Zoom.

• Sharing your screen in Zoom
• Sharing your screen in a Zoom Room

If you are a heavy whiteboard user, make sure that whatever examples you draw on the board are visible to the remote participants, or consider using the whiteboard feature in Zoom and projecting in the room so both groups of students can see what you're writing.

Make sure the remote participants can hear

Similar to teaching in a large lecture hall, you will want to make sure your remote participants can hear you clearly. Consider repeating in-class student questions so everyone can hear. Use an external microphone connected to Zoom rather than your computer's built-in microphone to give the best chance for you to be heard across Zoom. Rooms that are equipped with Zoom technology have the best microphones for this situation already built-in.

For additional assistance, contact Academic Technology: (415) 405-5555, at@sfsu.edu, LIB 80