Usually, you will receive an email from the person hosting the Zoom meeting. The body of the email text will look similar to this:
This reads [with comments in italic]:
Martin Fisk is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Martin Fisk’s Zoom Meeting
[where the host may set their own meeting name]
Time: Apr 20, 2020 11:00 AM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77451430052?pwd=OHU4UFR4bTdpU2h2UDV6b2JPdUpCdz09
[Just click this hyperlink in the invite AT THE MEETING TIME to join]
Meeting ID: 774 5143 0052
Password: 2yyUfu
[The meeting id and password are provided in case the hyperlink fails – you can then use these to join the meeting manually. You can usually ignore these]
Click on the long link starting https://, and Zoom will ask you to open the application:
Click ‘Open Zoom Meetings’” in the Window, and you will then be asked to ‘Enter your name’:
Your name is what everyone in the Videoconference will know you by (It is displayed at the bottom of your image), so best for U3A purposes to enter your full name (you can change this very easily if you are John Smith in U3A, but want to appear as Uncle Jack in the family).
When you’ve entered it click the ‘Join Meeting’ button.
The next step allows your device’s webcam to be used:
Click the ‘Join with Video’ button. Note that if you do not have a webcam, or are in the bath, you can join without video – and the video can be switched on and off while in the meeting. It is good practice to show a photographic image of yourself, or an avatar, if not using live video
You should see:
This means the meeting has started and you are in a waiting room. The host is aware that you are there and can admit you to the meeting. This is a simple security measure to prevent mischievous interlopers.
You may now be asked to join with your Computer audio:
Click the ‘Join with Computer Audio’ button and you have joined your first Zoom videoconference!
Congratulations!