#EdTechTeacherChallenge August 2020: Bitmoji Classroom, Day 10

 

Good day and welcome to Day 10 #EdTechTeacherChallenge August 2020 Bitmoji Classroom. Today is another practice day. We are going to add a poster or two to our virtual classroom. To do this, you are going to first open your Virtual Classroom Template. Then click Insert -> Image -> Search the Web. Now search for a poster. You are going to want to search for something like "inspirational poster" or "educational poster". If you have a specific quote in mind, you can search for part or all of the quote. If you have a specific topic in mind, you can search by topic. Once you find a poster you like, click, drag and place it in your workspace. Trim, resize and reposition. And your done! You could probably now do this with your eyes closed and one hand tied behind your back.

Here are the options I chose for my virtual classroom:

Virtual Classroom w/ "Welcome Back" poster and "Road Less Traveled" poster

If you look closely at the images I chose for posters, you might notice that my wall background shows through the image. If this bothers you, you are going to want to add a background shape behind the image. To do this, click on Insert -> Shape -> Shape -> (rectangle shape). You can also click on the shape icon in the toolbar, choose Shape and then the rectangle shape. Click and drag your cursor from the upper left corner to the bottom right corner of the your image. This will put the shape above your image. To get it behind your image, click on Arrange -> Order -> Send Backward until it is just behind your image. (Tip: You are going to want to play with the color of the rectangle at this point to match the rest of your decor and the poster itself.) Then, group the poster and the shape by holding down Shift and clicking on the poster. Click on Arrange -> Group. (Tip: If you click off the rectangle and still need to group the poster and rectangle together, drag both off your workspace. Move the poster over the rectangle. Then drag your cursor on the whitespace to anywhere on the poster. This will catch both objects at the same time and allow you to group them.) Now, if you have to move the poster, it will move the background shape as well. 

Here's my virtual classroom updated with this feature:

Virtual Classroom w/ background shape behind "Welcome Back" Poster

Another thing you might want to add to your posters is a picture frame. You can do this a couple of ways. You can search for picture frames in "Search the Web". You will need to crop, resize, reposition and send backward to fit your poster. There is also a picture frame looking shape in the Insert -> Shape -> Shape that you can size, recolor and send backward to fit your poster. Whichever version you choose, after you group them together, you may need to resize the group because the frames tend to take up a lot of room. 

Here I have two versions of frames. The first is with a frame image. The second is with the frame-like shape. I decided to keep the second option.

Virtual Classroom w/ picture frame image behind "Road Less Traveled" poster

Virtual Classroom w/ picture frame shape behind "Road Less Traveled" poster

My last tip for the day is that sometimes it is difficult to find just the right poster so might want to create your own. You can open a new Drawings window and completely create it from scratch. You will then have to download it as a JPEG and then Insert -> Image -> Upload From Computer. Another option is to use an image, like I have, change the transparency and insert a text box over it. That's what I chose to do. I had to add a white rectangle between the poster and the frame in order for the transparency to work. Here is how it looks. 

Virtual Classroom w/ text box place over "Road Less Traveled" poster

I hope you enjoyed today's tips and tricks. I hope these give you some more ideas about how you can customize your virtual classroom to be exactly what you want. Don't forget to add your posters to your Banner Template as well. 

Virtual Classroom Banner w/ posters added. (Note: "Roads Less Traveled" poster was altered due to sizing restrictions.)

You are now set to add whatever you want to your classroom. That is tomorrow's challenge. Share with me how you are doing in the comments below or on social media using @MrsMathMagician. Be sure to use the hashtag #EdTechTeacherChallenge. I look forward to seeing your creations.

Peace, Love and Happiness Always.