Distance learning is no picnic, I think we can all agree. Especially in such crazy circumstances. So whenever it’s possible to add a little fun, I’m all for it! I love how the world is experimenting with Zoom virtual backgrounds, and I wanted to share some fun tips for you if you’d like to try it for yourself.
Basically, any photo can be turned into a Zoom background, as long as it’s the right size. And Canva has a free tool that allows you to drop your photo into a Zoom template and size it to work, then add any text or overlays you want. It’s really easy! I made four experimental Zoom backgrounds, and it took me about five minutes.
Here they are:
I grabbed all these photos from the free photo source, Pixabay, and then added overlay text to make them fit for a lesson on Greek mythology, a check in about independent reading, a class covering a play, or a discussion-based class. You could save these to your computer to use, or choose your own photos and add your own text.
If you’re not sure how to add a background while you’re in Zoom, here’s their how-to tutorial:
I like their tip about wearing something that stands out, and maybe filming in front of an empty-ish wall. Don’t worry about a green screen – who the heck has one of those lying around at home? (Though if you do, that’s amazing. Go with it.)
Here are a few of the fun types of templates waiting over at Canva:
If you want to skip Canva and just find fun photos for your background, here are a few of my favorites from Pixabay (and Unsplash). Just be sure you resize your selection to a 16:9 ratio if you want them to fit the virtual background.
#1: Library Love
I hope you’re inspired to go experiment at Canva and search around on Pixabay for a few minutes! It’ll take a couple of go-rounds to get the hang of this, but once you do, won’t it be fun?!
Do you find your inspiration in VISUALS? I love ‘em too. Let’s hang out on Instagram! Click here to get a steady stream of colorful ideas all week long.
