Zoom Classes- The Power of the Mute Button

As many of of us have experienced the transition to virtual classes has brought about a unique set of challenges. The first day of classes used to mean trying to find the right classroom and bringing the need materials (books, paper, pens, etc.). Now with virtual classes, the first week details finding the right spot in your space that is appropriate, logging in at the right time, and working the mute button. As we adjust to these new normals, many of us have experienced a classmate (or yourselves) forget to check the mute button. Whether it's dogs barking in the background, other conversations or just random noise, the mute button can make the whole experience easier to follow along for us all. Although, sometimes an unmutted user can lead to some humorous stories. This post was inspired by my sister who shared one of these stories. 

My sister is in her second year at a different university and this past week was her first week of classes. Unlike myself, some of her classes are on Zoom and others are in-person. In one of her Zoom classes, she was sitting in her apartment with her roommate as the professor was discussing an upcoming assignment. The professor made a comment along the lines of "if you stay on for a few minutes I can answer any questions and help work through any issues". At this point my sister tried to turn off her camera and made the comment to her roommate that "she would stay if she could order some pizza." The professor then responded that "if she ordered pizza, he would also like a piece." Much to my sister's embarrassment, she realized she did not turn off her camera but instead unmuted herself.  

If you have Zoom classes to attend, do not forget the power of the mute button! 😃