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When attending virtual meetings, you might need a pop-up backdrop

How to Learn Anything in 5 Incredibly Easy Steps

Recently, my most-watched video is How to Fold a Pop-Up Background.

As the stay-home order has grounded us all, my daily meetings are run exclusively online. While sitting in front of the camera, I often get sidetracked by other people’s workspaces visible in the background. Since I don’t want to distract them with my own library-style real-life setting, I have started using a pop-up screen to give a clean backdrop to my talking head on the computer screen.


Day 1: Easy if you use instructions

I dug out an old, long-forgotten white background and popped it open. It was easy enough to install it on the stand. After the meeting, I tried to fold it back into its original shape. How hard can it be? I thought. I can fold different small popup screens; I can do this, too. After some frustration ( and no results), I found a manufacturer’s YouTube video and followed it step-by-step. Success!


Day 2: Second attempt, different instructions

The next day after the meeting, I tried again to fold the screen. I did it once; I know how to do it… nope! Where is that video? I couldn’t find the one I used yesterday, but I found another one for a similar backdrop. This time, I decided to learn the steps. The instructions in this video seemed a bit harder than the first, but I managed it.


Day 3: Where is the video?

The third time, after another meeting, was a disaster. None of the videos I found looked familiar (thanks – no thanks, Google!). I tried one – nope. Another one – something wasn’t right. The first video was more precise, the process – more manageable. How many tries does it take to fold a pop-up background? Too many… I left it there, leaning against the wall, a giant reminder of my failure (or should I say “failures”?).


Still day 3
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.
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It took me an hour or so to cool down and attack the challenge with my usual, systematic approach. Here it is, spelled out just for you, step by step:


1: Research and pick a reliable learning source

Find a good instructional video and bookmark/save/add to favorites or do whatever you need to do to be able to find it in the future.


2: Learn the steps

Watch the instructions first (don’t do anything yet), at least two times.


3: Memorize through repetition

Follow instructions step by step, pausing the video if necessary. Repeat the folding process a few times while watching the instructions.


4: Practice to develop muscle memory

Stop the video and try folding the screen from memory, multiple times.


5: Reinforce the learning

Repeat the folding process every few days.

Lessons learned:

At first, it took me a few trials to fold the screen.
The next few times, I was able to fold the pop-up in one try.
Now, I can do it with my eyes closed.
Still, I am keeping the link for the video instructions saved, favorited, and bookmarked on the home screen of all my devices, just in case…


By the way, if you need the link to the How To Fold a Pop-up Screen video I have used, get it here.

Have fun learning!

Picture of Bozena Chorazewicz
Bozena Chorazewicz
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