Use virtual class time to do sychronously what students can’t do on their own asynchronously.
Ask students to mute microphones when they are not speaking to minimize background noise.
Establish clear routines and procedures for interaction.
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- Students physically raise their hands on camera. This helps students be more physically engaged in class.
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- Students use ASL alphabet hand signs to signal needs: A = answer, C = comment, I = I have a question, V = volunteer, and so forth.
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- Students use icons provided in the “Manage Participants” panel in Zoom.
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- Instructor inserts “question breaks” into instructional PowerPoint presentations.
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- Students post questions in chat. Peers respond. If they can’t, a student assigned to monitor chat verbally alerts the instructor.
Use chat to increase interaction and engagement during class.
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- Ask a question and have students reply in chat.
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- Encourage comments, jokes, and other social interactions in chat.
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- Have students share materials in chat (e.g., documents, images, or links).
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- Invite students to pose questions in chat. Assign a student to monitor the chat and verbally alert you to questions.
Use as much visual imagery as possible to clarify content, make it more memorable, and recapture students’ attention. Try these sites for free, copyright-safe images:
Avoid using video and audio recordings during class because they do not stream well on Zoom.
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- Have students watch or listen prior to class.
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- Post links to recordings in chat and have students watch or listen individually with muted microphones.
Make in-class activities as interactive as possible. Consider having students:
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- Collaborate on projects.
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- Consult with the instructor.
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- Discuss or debate course content.
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- Interview, practice with, or teach peers.
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- Participate in information gap activities, simulations, TPR.
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- Respond to polls (use Bungeelink, Kahoot, Zoom polls, Zoom breakout rooms, etc.).
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- Role play.
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- Solve problems.
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- Work in small groups.