TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

You do not need a Zoom account to participate. All you need is a device that has both a camera and a microphone. Zoom will work with a tablet, smartphone, laptop, or a desktop computer (as long as it has a camera and a microphone). For the best experience, we recommend using a laptop or a desktop computer.

If you choose to download the Zoom Client, which provides you with easy access to Zoom via an icon on your desktop), go to https://zoom.us/download. Select "Zoom Client for Meetings." The program will download. Click on the file to load it to your computer.

If you have to use a mobile devices, you may need to get the app:

• Apple devices: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id546505307
• Android devices: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings

​For more information about technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-Requirements-for-PC-Mac-and-Linux

SETTING UP YOUR ZOOM SPACE

• Dress appropriately.
• Set up in a quiet indoor space.
• Get water.
• Have good lighting on your face. Don’t have a window or lights behind you.
• Get close to your camera and mic.
• Have the camera at head level (place on stacked books).
• If possible, plug in headphones or earbuds to hear better and eliminate audio feedback (echoes) UNLESS you are engaged in a class that involves movement.
• If you can, plug an ethernet cord into your device, open network preferences, turn off wi-fi, and select the ethernet connection.

JOINING A ZOOM MEETING

To join, click the link that was provided to you. If the link doesn’t work, go to zoom.us and click “Join a Meeting”

• Enter the meeting ID that was provided to you.
• When prompted, click “Open Zoom”
• Enter the meeting password that was provided to you.
• Click “Join Meeting”

Regardless of how you enter the Zoom meeting, you will first enter a Waiting Room. The instructor will receive a notice and will let you in when ready.

Follow the prompts to enable your computer's microphone and camera. Once you have joined the meeting, a window will pop up with your picture. You will be able to see and hear the other participants.​

NOTE: If you are not on the class list, the instructor will not allow you into the room! If you are supposed to be in a class but are not let in after a reasonable amount of time, you may contact us in the office: maria@commongroundothehill.org or commonground@commongroundonthehill.org

ZOOM ETIQUETTE

• Please arrive on time!
• Once you are in the meeting, you should make sure that your login name is actually yours, instead of your email, nickname or shorthand for your computer. If necessary, you can change your login name by going into the Participant box and clicking the "More" button to the right of your login name. Select "Rename". Type in the correct information so that your instructor can identify you. Click OK.
• Please keep yourself on MUTE during class, unless responding to the instructor. This prevents confusion and noise, and also reduces the bandwidth used. This allows the class to run much more smoothly.
• If you have a question, either wave at the instructor (if your class is small enough), or go to the "Reactions" button on the Zoom controls at the bottom of your Zoom screen and choose the "waving hand" icon. A yellow hand will appear over your image, so the instructor will know that you have a question.
• Wait until the instructor has acknowledged you before unmuting and starting to speak.
• When it is your turn to speak, press and hold the Space bar to unmute. NOTE: If the Space bar does not unmute you, hover your mouse over the microphone in the bottom left corner of your Zoom screen. It will have a red line through it, indicating that your microphone is muted. Click the image of the microphone to unmute. When finished, click again to mute.

ZOOM SAFETY

For the best and safest experience in workshops on Zoom, Do NOT Share Zoom links with others! Although all participants must be allowed into the room by the instructor, it is possible that "zoom bombers" could slip in using a link that was shared, which will disrupt the class

SETTING UP FOR OPTIMAL SOUND

We suggest the following audio settings. Once you have set up your audio, the settings will be saved; you will not have to update the settings every time you go in.

1. Move your cursor to the lower left corner of your Zoom screen. Look for the picture of the microphone. Click on the up arrow to the right of the microphone. (NOTE: If there is a red slash through it, it means the microphone is turned off. You can turn the microphone back on by clicking the microphone image.) A list of microphones, speakers, and test setting will appear.
2. Click "Audio Settings" at the bottom of the list. A Settings menu box will appear. Adjust your settings to match these images:

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Once you set up this page, click the Advanced button. Set up as follows (for Windows). If you have a Mac, you will not have both options available. Just set as close to this as possible.

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GENERAL TIPS AND TRICKS FOR USING ZOOM

​Meeting controls are at the bottom of the screen, visible when you hover your cursor in that area.

• Click on “Participants” in the meeting controls to turn on or turn off a view of the participant list (the participant list is different from the images of participants, which you can adjust but not turn off). In general, it is easiest to turn off the participant list once you are admitted to the class.
• Click on “Chat” in the meeting controls to turn on or turn off a view of the chat screen. *NOTE – when the speaker is screen sharing, you may want to turn off Chat so that you see more of the screen.

Chat allows you to type in questions or information. You may select the chat recipient - either a specific individual, or the entire class.

Understanding the different views of meeting participants

Change between gallery view and speaker view using the button in the upper right hand corner of your Zoom screen.

• Gallery view lets you see thumbnail displays of participants, in a grid pattern, which expands and contracts as participants join and leave the meeting. The button to switch you to Gallery view looks like a tiny grid of squares.
• Speaker view provides a larger view of whoever is speaking, while a small number of other participants is visible on the side or on top of the screen. The button to switch you to Speaker view looks like a rectangle with little boxes above it.

If the instructor is sharing images on the screen but part of the image is blocked by a view of participants, hover the cursor over the top of participants.

• Look for the single rectangle at the upper left of the participant block.
• Click on that to minimize the participant view.
• To maximize the participant view later, click on that same block, choosing the multi-square icon.

Pinning a Video

​If you want to see a particular person in the larger screen view (for instance, the instructor, or a participant who is displaying their work) without having it switch every time someone else speaks, you can “Pin” that person.

• Hover your cursor over that person’s image.
• Click on the box with 3 dots in the upper right hand corner of their image.
• Click on “Pin Video”
• To turn off this view, hover over the image, click on the 3 dots and choose “unpin video”

NOTE: THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT ZOOM TUTORIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE. TRY GOOGLING "HOW DO I [INSERT SKILL HERE] ON ZOOM"

Classes in 2021 are ALL VIRTUAL!

We hope to return to in-person classes in a safe manner in 2022, and look forward to gathering at that time.

Unfortunately, changes to your schedule need to be done by the office.

If you were enrolled with us in 2020:

• make sure you are using the email address that you used last year
• Link to account sign in:     app.enrollsy.com/r/OQA3M7nXH    
• Make sure you answer all questions until the end of the form and the system indicates you have completed the enrollment-you will get an email notifying you that you have completed the registration.
• Navigate to the see more fields to open up other registration choices and use the arrows at the top right hand side of the form to advance the calendar to the next week(s).

If you were with us last year and need to reset your password:  app.enrollsy.com/reset/common-ground-on-the-hill

If you continue to have difficulty, please contact the Common Ground on the Hill office at commonground@commongroundonthehill.org.

Yes! This year, evening events for ALL THREE Traditions Weeks are streaming LIVE on our YouTube Channel HERE! Evening events include:

• 6:30 PM Gallery Talks
• 8 PM Keynote Lectures (Mondays only)
• 8 PM Evening Concerts

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All classes will take place on Zoom. You do NOT need to purchase Zoom in order to use it for classes. You will receive an email with a link and a password for EACH class. Each class will have it's own information, so please keep track of which links and passwords go with each class. When it is time for your class, just click on the link and enter the password when prompted. A link to our Zoom tutorial will be sent to participants.

Orientation and registration take place on Sunday.

Classes run Monday through Friday. If the 4th of July holiday falls on a scheduled class day, classes WILL run as scheduled.

Check out is from 7:30-10 AM on Saturday, outside Englar Dining Hall. You will receive your room deposit back when you return your key. Failure to return your key by the scheduled time may result in loss of your room deposit.

Only in particular circumstances.

1. If a change is absolutely necessary, please fill out this form: https://www.commongroundonthehill.org/experience/programs-and-workshops/traditions-weeks/what-are-traditions-weeks#Class-Change-Form
2. Contact the COMMON GROUND ON THE HILL OFFICE. You may reach us at 410-857-2771 or by email at commonground@commongroundonthehill.org.
3. You will receive an email with permission to join the new class.

Please DO NOT begin the new class until these steps have been taken and you have received the permission email!

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WHEN TRADITIONS WEEKS ARE MEETING IN PERSON, REGISTRATION IS AS FOLLOWS:

SUNDAYS: Registration takes place from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the lobby of GILL GYMNASIUM.    

MONDAY COMMUTER CHECK-IN: We strongly encourage commuters to register on Sunday afternoon as it minimizes lines and wait times on Monday, and allows commuters to attend orientation on Sunday evening. However, commuter students may register from 7:45 AM – 3:30 PM outside the Hospitality Suite in Hill Hall.

Level 2 Housing includes several bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and small living area as part of a suite. Unless you signed up for linens, you will need to bring your sheets, pillow cases, and towels. Note that the kitchen includes a stove, microwave, and refrigerator, but pans, dishes and utensils are not included. Bedrooms include bed(s), dresser, a desk with desk light built in, and a closet.


You will need to bring all toiletries and personal effects. Toilet paper is provided, but soap is not.

Level 1 Housing is dormitory-style rooms with a shared bathroom on the hall. Each bedroom includes 2 beds, dressers, desks with built-in desk light, and a closet. Unless you signed up for Linens, you will need to bring your own sheets, pillow case, and towels. It is recommended that you bring something in which to carry toiletries.

Yes, there are designated handicapped parking spaces in each parking lot on campus.​

NOTE: There are NO instruments available for sale in 2021.

In normal in-person years, the following instruments will be available for sale at the Common Ground Store:

• harmonicas
• tin whistles
• recorders
• melodicas
• washboards

There are NO loaner instruments available in 2021.

​In normal in-person years, a limited numbers of selected instruments are available. All instruments are available on a first come, first served basis.

• African drums to borrow or buy: contact Sankofa at SankofaDT@gmail.com
• Hammered and Mountain Dulcimers: contact the Common Ground on the Hill office at commonground@commongroundonthehill.org
• Autoharps: contact the Common Ground on the Hill office at commonground@commongroundonthehill.org
• Harps: contact Jo Morrison at harp@triharpskel.com no later than June 15th.
• Practice chanters (for bagpipe): contact Wayne Morrison at tewok@portrigh.com no later than June 1.

​If instructor contact information is provided in the catalog, you may contact the instructor for further direction in obtaining an instrument for the class.

You will need to obtain your materials prior to the start of Traditions Weeks. Please contact your instructor to make arrangements.

No. You must sign up for the desired Jam class as a paid class.

The Schedule-at-a-Glance is available as a PDF on the page for each Traditions Week. Look for the "Download Schedule" button.

Yes. Students must attend both periods of a 2-period class, as these classes are specifically designed to provide students the time to work on projects, learn and interact with the instructor. Students who do not attend both periods of a class deprive themselves of the full experience, as well as falling behind and causing disruption to the flow of the class.

Yes - by becoming a volunteer! We love our volunteers!

‍The Volunteer Coordinator will be back in touch to set up your schedule.

Earn a free classes by volunteering! Details are on the volunteer application page, at the link above.

Contact the Common Ground on the Hill office to request to be added to the waiting list for a class. Email us at commonground@commongroundonthehill.org with the name of the class and your contact information. In the meantime, we suggest that you sign up for an alternate class.