Chad Downes
Chad is a Teacher with the London District Catholic School and holds the itinerant position of SEA Trainer. A graduate of Media Information Techno-culture (MIT) from Western University, he earned a Masters in Teaching by studying the impact of Computer Technology on Literacy. Chad holds a strong commitment to Universal Design for Learning through a strength-based approach so that all students can achieve. His experience has helped shape Chad as an Assistive Technology leader, as he was the Assistive Technology Advisor for the Amethyst Provincial Demonstration School, a member of the Accessible Formatting team for EQAO, as well as helped rewrite the AQ course on Assistive Technology for the Ontario College of Teacher. Most recently he is engaged in writing a course on Educational Technology for Fanshawe College. Chad enhanced his digital expertise while working for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services as an eLearning Trainer and Developer. He has presented and developed capacity on 21st century learning skills, with a focus on digital accessibility at conferences around the province including ASET, CEC and LD@school’s Educators’ Institute.
Universal design calls for "the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, without the need for adaptation or specialized design".
In this short video, Chad shares how changing backgrounds intentionally on Teams or other video conferencing platforms, has the opportunity to increase students sense of connection and engagement. You can follow his step-by-step instructions below.
One of the most glaring barriers educators are faced with during this paradigm shift to increased digital learning is connecting to students and developing those relationships. Using your TEAMS backgrounds intentionally has the opportunity to increase students sense of connecting because they are able to see you as a teacher, read body language and make eye contact, even if their camera is off.
It’s easy to learn to change your background and can have motivational and instructional benefits to students of all ages.
The easiest place to start is open up Microsoft Powerpoint and make a background on each slide. Keeping background mostly a solid colours will help with the chromakey effect when presenting on TEAMS.
Clear the slides of formatting and from the insert tab add pictures, smart art or word art above and to either side of where you will present from.
Once you have some backgrounds you are satisfied with, select the file tab, choose Save a Copy or Save As and change the format to jpeg.
When prompted choose All Slides:
A new folder will appear in your OneDrive with your pictures saved:
Next up is importing into TEAMS. Open TEAMS and choose the calendar. Select to MEET NOW.
Before entering a meeting you are prompted to adjust your setting. Ensure your camera is on and choose the icon for the background settings. Now in the side menu select Add new.
From the open window, navigate yourself to where you saved your powerpoints as JPEGS and select your files.
Now you will see your custom backgrounds listed in the Background settings.
*Note: The background will appeared mirrored to you – but not to others your meet with.
Once in a meeting and you want to change your background choose the ellipses for more actions …
Now choose apply background effects:
This is a great way to provide students feedback, name cards or visual schedules all while maintaining a visual presence to your students!