Sonoran University incorporates online meeting technologies to support online class meetings as well as ad-hoc audio or video interactions. This includes Zoom meetings and Skype For Business.
Is my computer/laptop compatible?
Laptops purchased in the last 3-4 years can accommodate a Zoom or Skype meeting. Check our minimum hardware/software specifications at techcheck.sonoran.edu.
Important: A consistent broadband Internet connection is a must when using these tools.
Zoom
Zoom is a video conferencing tool providing both audio/video conferencing and screen sharing sessions. Participants can easily join a Zoom meeting via an Internet-connected Windows/Mac computer or via installing an app on their IOS or Android phone. At Sonoran University , Zoom is primarily used to support online class meetings and scheduled discussions.
Zoom benefits and capabilities include:
- Group meetings with up to 300 participants
- Participants can share audio, video and their screen
- Participants can join a meeting via a phone call instead of computer audio
- Attendees can use the whiteboard feature to annotate and markup screens
- You can chat with everyone in the meeting or individuals privately
Skype for Business
Skype for Business is also a video conferencing tool providing both audio/video conferencing and screen sharing sessions. All Sonoran University students, faculty, and staff have a Skype for Business license. Skype for Business is great for quick person-to-person meetings or small group meetings. Participants can easily join a Skype for Business meeting by using the Skype for Business client application on their Windows or Mac computer. It is alsovia an Internet-connected Windows/Mac computer or via installing an app on their IOS or Android phone. At Sonoran University , Zoom is primarily used to support online class meetings and scheduled discussions.
Skype for Business offers similar capabilities to Zoom - it is, however, geared for smaller, ad-hoc, and quick audio or video chat meetings:
- Group meetings with up to 250 participants
- Participants can share audio, video and their screen
- Participants can only join meeting audio using computer audio or by installing the IOS/Android app on their smartphones
- The session can be recorded by the meeting host (originator)
- You can chat with everyone in the meeting or individuals privately
Microsoft Teams
Teams is the new successor to Skype for Business. Teams allows for a wide variety of collaboration features such as:
- Centralized file storage for Team members
- On-demand audio/video meetings
- Web conferencing meetings
- On-demand text chatting
Teams can be accessed using the Teams app or through Office 365 or on the web at teams.microsoft.com.
You can access Teams using your Sonoran University email address and password.