Transforming the classroom was one of my favorite ways to engage my learners. It was a way to get them excited about the learning that would be taking place that day and it created learning memories that lasted well beyond our calendar year. Now that we are entering this season of remote learning, personal touches like rooms transformations are something I miss dearly. But thanks to the newly released update on Microsoft Teams, I might not be able to change my physical classroom around but at least I can disguise and transform my virtual one through live meetings!
Getting Started
To transform the background of a video chat you need for first open up Microsoft Teams and start a new meeting. Once inside the Teams meeting, click on the three dots to reveal the menu of options. Click on “show background effects”.
Choose from a variety of background images or add in one of your own. You can preview backgrounds, and then click apply when ready to use in the meeting.
Creative Transformations
Once your background is chosen you can use throughout the call, take down or change as needed. Try using this feature in an #interACTIVE way during video calls! Play a version of “Where in the World Is…” by placing yourself in various places and having your kids ask yes or no questions to try and figure out where you are. Or may be you could use the background images as “virtual” room transformations. Use a mad scientists lab for your live science experiment or a library background for a class read aloud.
Another great feature of Microsoft Teams live meetings is that they can be recorded—so have fun recording yourself in your newly transformed learning environment. Try teaching your daily mini lesson in a new and unexpected place and download to share with students. InterACTIVE teaching and learning is all about engaging students and this is one of my new favorite #interACTIVE learning tools for distance learning.
Stay #interACTIVE!
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For more information on how to make learning more engaging and relevant by using technology, check out our book The InterACTIVE Class.
