Many teachers are entering the world of managing distance learning. There are so many new skills and programs that teachers are having to navigate, learn and utilise to provide the best possible education for students learning from home. Schools are adopting and repurposing a number of platforms for home learning, such as Microsoft Teams, Seesaw, Zoom, Google Meet and YouTube.
Shutterstock.com / mirtmirt
Whilst recording a lesson to a computer screen with no students seems completely unnatural to teachers, it’s important to grab this as an opportunity to get creative and try some new inventive ways to teach our students.
One of our designers has put together a collection of video backgrounds for teachers that will absolutely blow your socks off!
How to Utilise Video Backgrounds in Teacher Instruction Videos
No need to spend hours upon hours creating a space at home as your classroom backdrop. Or, if you are recording in your classroom, there’s no need to set up a corner just for your video recordings. Simply pick one of these gorgeous designs and you’re on your way.
We’ve done a bit of research and, to us, the easiest way is to record your video using the program Zoom. It’s a free program and we suggest simply using it to record your learning videos. It’s super easy to change the backgrounds and once recorded it prompts you to save the video in the correct format for uploading to YouTube or SeeSaw.
Other programs teachers have suggested where you can change the video backgrounds include, MacBooth and iMovie.
How to Record a Teaching Video in Zoom?
This is so easy to use! Once you have downloaded the free program, simply host a meeting – yes a meeting by yourself! We’ll also explain how to change your virtual backgrounds in the steps below.
- Once in Zoom, click on the ‘host a meeting’ option in the far right corner and then pick ‘with video on’.
- In the recording window, you’ll see options at the bottom of the screen, find the up arrow beside ‘start video’.
- Click ‘choose virtual background’.
- Add your Teach Starter’s video backgrounds for teachers to your bank of options.
- Once you’ve picked a background, press the record button.
- Once you’ve finished, click the stop recording button, then, ‘end meeting’
- It will automatically save the video and prompt you to pick a location on your computer to save the file. Ta-dah!
Variety of Downloadable Video Backgrounds for Teachers
In our collection of video backgrounds for teachers we have a range of subject-specific backgrounds and other generic backgrounds.
Here’s just a few of our favourite backgrounds…
(1) Llama Themed Video Background
This is the cutest background – how can you not like a Llama-themed video background? Maybe you can name the Llamas and have students use them in a narrative story that they write.
(2) Good Morning Video Background
A nice bright and cheery background that you can use for your morning message videos!
The beautiful images of rainbows, flowers and beautiful colours are sure to brighten anyone’s day!
(4) Space-themed Video Background
Let’s go in a rocket trip to space! Your student will absolutely love to see you in front of this awesome space-themed video background.
(5) Classroom Video Background
Well if the students can’t come to the classroom – why not sit in front of this super colourful and bright Teach Starter classroom?
One of our favourite quote posters also features in this setup!
(6) Phonics-themed Video Background
When creating videos for specific subjects you can utilise some of our many subject-specific backgrounds.
It’s a great way to bring a bit of consistency to this uncertain time. For example, when they see you in front of this screen they know they are learning about phonics.
For more of these awesome backgrounds, check out our full collection of Video Backgrounds for Teachers.
Can you use this in onenote's classnotebook.
Hi Lynne, the best way for Onenote's Class Notebook but the looks of it is to record your video elsewhere like using Zoom as suggested in the blog and then adding the video file to whatever platform you are using. Hope this helps.
Do these backgrounds work with Google Meet?
Hi Kylie, it is our understanding that at this stage Google Meet only has the option to use virtual backgrounds provided on that platform. However, we have heard that they will be rolling out the option to add your own virtual backgrounds. Fingers crossed it's soon!
Im using zoom but cant find the option to use virtual background?
Hey Elissa, here's an article I found on Zoom's website - https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/210707503-Virtual-Background. I hope that clears up any confusion.
Hi These look fantastic. Can they be used on Google Meets?
Hi Catilin, unfortunately not at this stage. I believe you can change the backgrounds in Google Meets, and having the ability to upload your own background is coming - but not available just yet.
Can these backgrounds be used in Screencast-o-matic?
Hi Stephanie, unfortunately, I don't believe Screencast-o-matic has this ability.
Looks fantastic. Can it be used in webex teams?
Hi Leonie, I did a quick search and it appears you can! This is what came up – During the meeting, tap Video and then tap Virtual Background. Choose to: Blur your surroundings while remaining in focus. Add a virtual background from your device’s gallery. I would love to hear if you have success.
Can you use them whilst talking live ?
Yes! If you are in Zoom!
Will these background work with Microsoft Teams?
I don't believe this is a function on Microsoft Teams at present - but the website does say this will be coming??
My Zoom says that I need a green screen for it to work properly or to have lates ios updated and an intel core processor of at least i5 or better with a quad processor or something like that...I check my 'about this mac' and I do have all those things, but it still wont work properly...thanks for the cool backgrounds though!
i'm having the same problem
I have this problem to, I can click off the Green screen but then I can't really see the image background I see one little bit of colour
Hi Chloe, you should have the option to change over to not using a green screen in Zoom. I had to click over as well when we trialed them.
Thanks! We've been told we can't record videos at home. This might be a way we can get around that!!
Great Paula! Glad these backgrounds will be useful to you! Best of luck!
This looks amazing and thanks for the instructions of how to use with Zoom
No problem at all Leanne! Glad you found the explanation helpful!
This is wonderful! Thank you! If you are a school using Zoom, the backgrounds that contain text will come up as mirrored so you will need to download the file, open it in Paint and flip the image horizontally before saving it again and before uploading to your Zoom backgrounds. I just did a trial to see how it would work and it looks fabulous. Thank you for creating new resources for our digital classrooms at such a rapid pace. We are so thankful.
Hi Sarah, I am so glad you are enjoying these backgrounds! When placed as a virtual background in Zoom they may look flipped around to you, but anyone else in the meeting will see the image the right way around. If you record the meeting, the final video will be the right way around also. Hope that helps! If we can help with anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Thanks so much for giving us this resource - it looks wonderful
Thanks for your lovely comment Andrea!
Do you know if this is possible in Webex?
Hi Taylor, not entirely sure! Usually, there is an FAQ on the platform you are using. Fingers crossed it does work for you!
Do you happen to know if you can use these with WebEx?
Hi Bec, I just did a quick search and it appears you can! This is what came up - During the meeting, tap Video and then tap Virtual Background. Choose to: Blur your surroundings while remaining in focus. Add a virtual background from your device's gallery. I would love to hear if you have success.
Can these be used for Google Classroom?
Hi Fiona, unfortunately, I don't believe you can change the backgrounds in Google Classroom.
thank you, these are great :)
You're most welcome, Kylie.
We will be using Microsoft Teams. Do you have instructions for sth
Hi Anissa, from our research Microsoft Teams doesn't have the function to add your own backgrounds. But, their website states that it is something that will be added. Hopefully, it's sooner rather than later.
Thanks so much for this! Excited to use Zoom and the backgrounds when the term starts back up in NSW :)
You're so welcome, Tracy! We need to innovate as best as we can in these strange new times. Good luck with Term 2!