How Students Can Control Their Display Names on Virtual Platforms

 

The digital technology that your school or district is using may be automatically accessing and importing students’ legal names that are on file for online use. For some students, seeing this name (which they may no longer be using at school) every time they connect online can make them feel very uncomfortable. Below is a listing of instructions on how to change the display name for a variety of online platforms. BONUS – you might be able to add pronouns too!

Share these instructions with students who don’t use their legal name at school.

Zoom

  1. Log in to your online account at zoom.us.

  2. Click on “Profile.”

  3. Click the “Edit” link at the top of the page next to the display name. You can add pronouns here too if you want them to be displayed.

  4. ALTERNATIVE: If you don’t have an online account, or want to make a change during a meeting, click on the three dots that appear over your video or profile frame (often beside mute). Select “Rename”. Make your desired changes to the display name.

Google Classrooms

  1. Log in to your account at google.classroom.com.

  2. Click on the Google Apps Options icon.

  3. Click on your avatar/icon that represents your Google account and click on G+ Profile.

  4. Click on “About.”

  5. Click on the pencil icon to edit your User Name.

Blackboard Collaborate

  1. Log in to your online account at blackboard.com

  2. Open the menu next to your name in the Page Header > Settings > Personal Information > Edit Personal Information.

  3. Make changes to Name.

  4. Select Submit.

MS Teams

Depending on how your network was set-up, your administrator might be the only one who can change a person’s name. To change the display name with admin access:

  1. In the admin centre of teams.microsoft.com, go to Users > Active users page.

  2. Select the user's name, and then on the Account tab, select Manage contact information.

  3. In the Display name box, type a new name for the person, and then select Save.

Is there a platform that you are using that is not included in this list? Let us know so that we can research it and provide more updated tips to share with everyone.

 
COVID-19 ResponseStephanie Sauve