7 Ways to Increase Engagement in Virtual Learning
Ever wonder how to increase engagement in virtual learning? Or just in the classroom in general? Having a hard time getting students to stay on task through a screen? I have a few other blogs you might want to tag here and here for teaching digitally. It’s no easy task but, I’m here to help!
While e-learning is becoming a really common reality for a lot of teachers, it’s actually my reality every day – I’m a special educator at a cyber school! Through trial and error, research, and tons of practice, I have found some really practical strategies for keeping kids engaged and answering through a screen. Best part? Not all of these require students to keep their cameras on, which we know can be tricky for all students. Most of these strategies work great in the classroom when teaching in-person as well!
Now, my most recent experience is using Zoom to host all my lessons, but there are a lot of other great platforms I know are used in schools across the country. Many of them have the ability to do similar things to what I will be suggesting. Here are some of my favorite and most used tips!
Unmute and answer, even with a device!
This may seem obvious, but it’s one to keep in the forefront of your mind as it is great for use with no camera. If your students are or aren’t using cameras to join a lesson, you can still know they’re present and ready to participate through their use of the microphone.
Have the students use the “reactions” to raise their hand and answer a question verbally! For some of my students, they love to hear their own voice. I think it also helps their peers to maintain attention because they love any opportunity to be social with one another. More complex communicators in your class students can always unmute and use their speech-generated device to answer questions. I will say it can be tricky if you don’t know what a student has on their device that they can answer with but, having IEP team meetings and learning that information is vital!
Annotation Bar on Zoom to Increase Engagement in Virtual Learning
The annotation tool on Zoom has been my best friend when it comes to increase engagement in virtual learning. I love all the options that this tool bar has. I plan to share a few of them that have really upped the engagement in my virtual classroom with students with disabilities. We have worked on using these tools all year but, that the students have increased their independence with them over time.
Using the Stamp
The “stamp” tool on Zoom is super fun! There are different shapes available on Zoom that students can use to stamp on top of an answer to a multiple-choice question. I often find this tool works great for students that struggle with fine motor skills. When they answer they don’t have to draw a circle around the answer, they can just touch the screen one time and the stamp shows up. Students can vote in a poll, take “attendance”, answer a question, and more by using the stamp annotation tool. My students LOVE this feature and I always see high rates of engagement when it’s offered as a means of participation.
Draw on the Screen
Another simple and engaging way to activate your students’ thinking! I use the draw feature to have students circle pictures, words, and numbers to answer questions, draw their responses, and help with 1:1 correspondence in math lessons. This method of engagement will require students to press down on the screen or mouse. Then they hold it until they have finished scribbling the circle, letter, or number they have chosen. I love this because it really helps me as the teacher SEE their thinking.
Looking for materials like this to use in your lessons, check out all the Boom Cards I have available!
I have also read books with the class but, asked them to circle or find different things in the words or picture of the story. This adds more interaction to the reading and keeps students focused. You can also use PDFs that aren’t interactive but, still have multiple-choice questions you can use this tool to give it an extra boost.
If you want to learn more about all the features you can use when you share and annotate in Zoom, check out this video!
Holding Up the Answer on a White Board
This engagement strategy requires cameras and is a great way to encourage students to do so. While offering the choice for cameras on is important, having some motivating reasons to join with the camera can be what some students need. Whiteboards were popular among my students when I taught in the physical classroom. I knew they’d be a hit for my students in my cyber school, too. This helps students get off of technology for a moment and put their answers on a whiteboard! It also allows you to get a grasp on some of their handwriting and writing abilities!
Holding Up a Visual to Increase Student Engagement in Virtual Lessons
This engagement strategy also requires cameras on, and can be really fun, as well as super varied! Doing scavenger hunts in the home can be really engaging as well as a way to keep learning meaningful. When studying 3D shapes, students can gather items from their homes: spheres, pyramids, and cylinders! Students can find kitchen items that hold specific amounts of liquid when studying volume! This can also extend to visuals that you as the teacher provide, like flashcards, manipulatives, and visuals.
Are you looking for some visuals that can help you with teaching virtually? Grab this freebie I’ve created by signing up for my email list and get access to this and over 40 other resources you can use in your classroom!
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Using Thumbs Up or Down
So simple and most students can do it with ease to increase student engagement in virtual lessons. Students giving a thumbs up/down to show their feelings about a topic or strategy, to share their comfortability with a lesson topic, or to share an opinion can be super engaging. And when I have a student that struggles with fine motor, I have the adult get the answer from the student first and they give the thumbs up or down for them! Picking students to elaborate on their answers can be a good way to keep the engagement flowing.
Sign Language or Hand Signals
Teaching basic sign language like yes, no and help, is something I am always using in my virtual classroom. I used it when I worked in a brick and mortar classroom all the time! This offers students an additional communication tool. I can quickly see their answers. I also have them show answers to math questions by showing me the numbers on their hands. This allows for many students to participate at once, which is always a goal of mine.
What simple and powerful engagement strategies do you use in your classroom?
