During this time, we’ve all moved online and, to be honest, many of us are not techie guys and gals and unless we’re on computer courses wouldn’t choose to be sitting online to learn or teach, right?
I’d like to address something this week that is rapidly becoming apparent from my conversations with students. PRIVACY!
Whether you use Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams or any other platform. Your university has suddenly catapulted you onto it and you are trying to teach or learn in extraordinary circumstances. The phrase ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ springs to mind, and I would not mind betting that people who are not directly involved in the welfare of clients have been trying to soldier on – doing what they do but in front of a camera.
There’s a set of problems around at the moment and students are mentioning them. Here is one:
Tutors? Students get distracted by your backgrounds – seeing a pile of washing up or staring in horror at last year’s holiday snaps from Ibitha on the pinboard over your shoulder does not focus them on fluid dynamics. It makes them think about their own domestic chores or starts them wondering when they’ll see sand and tequila again. It might even knock you off that pedestal they have you on if they see your collection of Murder She Wrote DVDs on the shelf.
Students? Do you really want a hundred people in a lecture to be invited into your home? Even if you are not sitting next to your baby photos on the mantle piece which your mum refuses to put away, even if you’ve carefully chosen a place where it’s as neutral as it can be. You are still inviting people into your personal space. Although it may seem fine, think of the real world. The one Out There, in olden times! How often do you invite in 100 people who you don’t know, maybe don’t particularly like, or perhaps you like some of them a bit, some of them a lot and some you cannot even remember their name. Do you want to do that? No?
Blur the background!
Here’s an example. In Microsoft Teams. Once you have the camera rolling, go to the lower middle of your screen. Your cursor will activate a menu. In the middle there are three dots, choose this and you’ll get an extra menu. On the extra menu it says Background Effects – choose this option. A menu will appear on the right side of your screen. At the top there is a white box with a grey circle and a line through it. Next to it is a blurry one. Click on the blurry box. A blue button appears at the bottom of your screen saying Preview and Apply. Click on this. Your background will now be blurred. Go back to the meeting with joy in your heart.
If you want to get out of this, do the same again and click on the white box with the grey circle and line through it. It will put your background back for you.
Remember, if you move something like a pen or object you want the group to look at away from the front of your body, the camera will blur it! You will have to share it in chat, hold it in front of you, or unblur your background. Top tip – if you intend to show people things by holding them in front of yourself, wear plain colours!
Most platforms worth their salt provide an option to change your background. Do think carefully about doing this. Online is different from real life and etiquette is slightly different – you will not be considered impolite or rude for blurring your background. After all, the other person can do the same if they want.