Record+Upload: Step by Step

Zoom is a free, easy-to-use video conferencing and recording platform that works on all computers with webcams.

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1. Create a Zoom Account:

   • Visit zoom.com and sign up for a free account using your email.

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2. Install Zoom:

   • Download and install the Zoom desktop app on your computer (recommended for best recording quality).

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3. Prepare Your Slide and Presentation Area:

   • Have your static slide ready and open in full-screen mode (PowerPoint, Google Slides, or PDF viewer).

   • Make sure your camera and microphone are working.

   • Make sure your background is uncluttered and your space is well-lit.

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4. Set Up to Record:

   • Open Zoom and start a new meeting with only yourself logged in.

   • Click “Share Screen” and select the window displaying your slide presentation.

   • Enable your webcam video — your video bubble will appear on screen. 

   • Move and resize your video bubble so it is visible but does not cover important slide content. For official 3MT style, position your video bubble in the top left corner.

   • Adjust your camera to capture you from about the waist up

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5. Record Your Presentation:

   • Click “Record” and select “Record on this Computer.” 

   • Begin your presentation. Speak clearly and pace yourself to keep within three minutes. 

   • Deliver your talk from memory; avoid reading from notes.

   • When finished, click “Pause/Stop Recording,” then end the Zoom meeting.  

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6. Review & Trim: ​ 

   • ​Zoom automatically saves the recording as an MP4 file on your computer. ​

   • Review your video and trim the very beginning and/or end if needed to remove any setup pauses.  

   • Do not add music, text, or other effects to the video. 

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7. Download & Save  ​​

   • ​Download or Save:
     Your final video will be saved locally in the Zoom recordings folder on your computer in MP4 format. 

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8. ​Submit   ​​​

   • Fill out the submission form on the Competition page ​​​