Background Check: Why students should be able to use virtual backgrounds on Webex

As I watch my classmates’ cameras go off one by one on Webex, I feel helpless.

Forcing myself to keep my camera on prevents me from scrolling through Instagram and curling up in a ball on the ground simply because it’s comfier than my desk chair — but it’s not exactly the best position for learning how to use adverbs in French. 

When you’re the only one with a camera on, it feels like the whole class is watching your every move.

Last year, my room was my place where I could relax and escape from school. No teachers were asking me about the themes of the book we’re reading, and I wasn’t having to present my EHAP project from my desk.

Now, school has forced its way into my room. At the very least, I should be able to turn on a calming beach or even a solid color to keep my room out of school. 

Sometimes the choice between camera off and camera on is an easy one. When in doubt, camera off. 

Want to work in a more public space in your house? Camera off. Want to give your back a break on the couch? Camera off. Want to prop your laptop on a shelf and stand for a bit? Camera off. 

Virtual backgrounds provide a middle ground to the camera situation. Students can opt for a serene mountain as their background and still remain engaged during class. 

Not only does a background make it easier for a student to turn their camera on, but it also eliminate distractions in class. It’s already hard to pay attention in online school, and seeing people running behind someone on their camera makes it even harder.

We all know online school doesn’t make for good class discussions. It’s nerve-racking trying to guess if someone is going to talk soon based on a gray box with their initials — and it’s embarrassing to interrupt. Seeing people face-to-face makes that just a bit easier. 

Having virtual backgrounds also creates a fun opportunity for Graphic Design, Photography I or II and Digital Design students to make custom Lancer-themed backgrounds. If you can’t be in-person, might as well have some fun with it. 

Plus, the backgrounds could be used in class too. For our question of the day in math, we can put an image in our background that embodies our answer to add some spice instead of simply typing our answer in the chat. Instead of each person in a group project taking turns to share screens, they could use virtual backgrounds to speed up the process. This would also be a lot more interesting than each person asking to see their screen.

Currently, virtual backgrounds are not allowed on our Webex accounts, but with virtual backgrounds, you could say goodbye to being distracted by your classmate’s messy room or staring at gray boxes for the entire class period.