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Keeping speakers to time

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Keeping speakers to time

For speakers who are screen sharing slides and have a fixed amount of time or would like the odd time check.

You can use Zoom’s “annotate” feature to display how many minutes are left (everyone will see this) and remove it after a few moments.

Why other methods don't work as well

You can hold up your hands or a written sign – but when someone is screen sharing they are either too focused on their presentation to see your video amongst others or the zoom videos are hidden on their computer by the slideshow.

You can send them a message in Chat – but they often won’t be watching the chat (or its too busy with lots of messages)

You can call out “five minutes left” – but this can be intrusive and put the speaker off.

You can use a Timer App – but [as of Aug 22 at least] timer apps simply display a timer on your video (and not the speaker’s) or an extra “timer” attendee video.

IMPORTANT: this currently [Sept 22] only works in the normal Zoom APP – NOT in the WEB version of Zoom (running in a Browser window).
Click here for how to switch.

Of course, if you ever have problems with this method, you can resort to simply calling out the time remaining.

 

  • At the top of your screen (look for the green strip) – click “View Options”
  • Then choose “Annotate”

Using annotate for time checks 08

 

This will display this menu (which you can drag around your screen) …

Using annotate menu for time checks 03

To prepare (needed only once)

  • Click on Format
  • Choose the size for your message and the colour (to contrast against the slide background)

To display a message (for each time check)

  • Click on Text
  • Click on the screen to the left of where you want the message to show
  • Type the time remaining

Using annotate - type the text

  • Finally, click on the screen somewhere away from the text

Everyone will see something like this …

To turn messages off

  • After a few moments, use Undo or Clear to disappear it

 

Important: if you need to click on anything else (e.g. another Zoom button) and you find you’re stuck in “Annotate”, click on Mouse