Student Engagement

in your Virtual Classroom

 What we hope we see as a teacher...

Hook/ice-breaker. Ask participants what they think about the picture.

 Reality

Continue previous discussion. Ask the focus question: “How can we achieve a higher
level of student engagement through Zoom?”
 “8 Strategies to Improve Participation in Your Virtual
Classroom”

In every classroom, there are students who always have their hand raised to
participate, and those who are hesitant to engage. Whether they’re introverted,
tend to think awhile before they contribute, or are just having a bad day, it can be
hard to bring kids into discussions who are reluctant to add their voices.

Getting kids to contribute in virtual classrooms takes some work, it turns out. “We
keep calling this generation digital natives as if they are simply whizzes at
everything computerized. They aren’t,” wrote Tim O’Brien (educator). "They need
personal support, scaffolding, and reassurance that technology does not provide.
It is simply a tool, not a teacher.”

Suggest this article to colleagues for future reading. Talk about the final line:
technology is important but the teacher ultimately decides which technology/tools to
use, and when.
 IXL vs Desmos Classroom
Math Classroom
● IXL Lesson Presentation
● Desmos Classroom Participation

Present IXL lesson on writing linear equations. Create Desmos Classroom class
code for participants to join. Ask them to complete the lesson together as if they are
my students. This lesson is about writing linear equations as well.
Breakout room team #1: (Names)

1. Which lesson is more engaging for students and why? (IXL or Desmos)

2. What are some strategies that you use to make sure students are
engaged during virtual learning?

3. What are some challenges you have had to overcome so far?

4. What tips can you give to your colleagues to help them during distance
learning?

Divide participants into groups (breakout rooms), and ask them to discuss and answer
these four questions as a group.
Breakout room team #2: (Names)

1. Which lesson is more engaging for students and why? (IXL or Desmos)

2. What are some strategies that you use to make sure students are engaged
during virtual learning?

3. What are some challenges you have had to overcome so far?

4. What tips can you give to your colleagues to help them during distance
learning?
Breakout room team #3: (Names)
1. Which lesson is more engaging for students and why? (IXL or Desmos)

2. What are some strategies that you use to make sure students are engaged
during virtual learning?

3. What are some challenges you have had to overcome so far?

4. What tips can you give to your colleagues to help them during distance
learning?
https://www.teachthought.com/technology/principles-of-student-engagement-in-a-virtual-classroom

Participants can click the link above to read about the strategies I use in this
presentation.
 Lesson Design & Context
● Strategy: Experiment with learning models that require active learning and
participation from every student, every day.
● Possibly the single most fundamental part of teaching is to understand what
is to be taught (lesson objective) and how to teach it (in which lesson design
plays a part).
● Clear learning objectives, smart learning models, simple assessment
practices, and opportunities for reteaching and extending learning are all
hallmarks of good teaching and learning and the same applies to a virtual
classroom during remote teaching.
● Examples of successful lesson designs or contexts: (participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Motivation & Psychology
● Strategy: Honor that different people do the same thing for different
reasons–and students are no different.
● Motivation is among the most powerful factors of student engagement in a
virtual classroom.
● Not every student will be motivated by the same thing. Student ‘engagement’
is generally thought of in terms of cognitive engagement but cognitive
engagement proceeds motivation.
● Examples of motivational strategies: (participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Roles & Perspectives

● Strategy: Use ‘roles’ as a design element in lesson and unit design

● The idea of ‘roles’ in a classroom is usually thought of in terms of ‘teacher
role’ and ‘student roles,’ and that’s a good place to start. But helping students
assume ‘roles’ can also improve class climate and group work.
● Examples of student role assignment: (participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Spaces & Climate

● Strategy: Help Students Prepare their Remote Space

● In traditional in-person classrooms, teachers have the presence and authority
to tailor the environment to be as conducive to learning as possible.
● In distance learning, however, each student’s space will vary.
● Examples of successful learning spaces:(participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Structures & Flexibility
● Strategy: Provide Structure with Flexibility
● Course structure, lesson and activity structure, assessment
structures–organization requires structure and more than ever, learning
benefits from organization. Even abstract ‘structures’ like the idea of
consistency is important for student engagement.
● TeachThought has many helpful articles for those new to distance learning,
including virtual teaching tips for beginners, modern eLearning trends, and how to promote
higher-level thinking in online courses.
● Examples of lesson or assessment structures and flexibility: (participants’
input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Collaboration & Interdependence
● Strategy: Encourage Collaboration
● As humans, we have an innate desire and tendency to socialize. However,
with remote learning, students don’t get the social stimulation they would
have gotten from an in-person learning environment.
● To help your students overcome any negative effects of remote learning, such
as restlessness, lack of motivation or interest, and cabin fever, encourage
them to collaborate with each other, both during and between classes.
● Examples of collaborative or independent activities: (participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Inclusion & Equity
● Strategy: Involve Every Student At Least Once Every Day
● With distance learning, especially when handling larger groups of students,
it’s important to informally keep track of their participation to make sure
they’re each tuned in and understanding the material.
● Also a crucial factor is another kind of ‘inclusion’–equitable access for every
student, every day. From hardware accommodations, language barriers, and
socioeconomic factors, this is a major challenge today.
● Examples inclusive and equitable strategies: (participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Interfaces & Interactions
● Strategy: Leverage Powerful Technology
● With the worldwide study-from-home emergency the coronavirus pandemic
created, companies all around the world are doubling down on remote study
offerings, from learning management systems (LMS) to classroom-specific
artificial intelligence.
● Student ‘interactions’ aren’t just with technology tools. Students also
interface and interact with one another, with information, and with the people
around them at home while trying to participate in the virtual classroom.
● Examples interactive activities: (participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Communication & Access
● Strategy: Be Available–Through Virtual Office Hours, For Example
● Make sure you’re available for your students, as remote learning is more
challenging on the communication front.
● Be aware of how frustrating the remote learning experience might be for your
students, and adjust your availability accordingly.
● Remote teaching will have a different learning curve for every educator. But,
as long as you keep students and their needs first, you’ll most certainly find
that it’ll be easier on yourself, as well.
● Examples of accessibility: (participants’ input)

Go over the strategy and some examples. Ask participants to discuss with the whole
group, and add their input directly onto the slides (in blue). Go over the responses.
 Other Principles of Student Engagement in
a Virtual Classroom

Other principles of student engagement in a virtual classroom

include feedback loops, gamification, curriculum design,
instructional design, data quality and forms, and more.

Wrap up, go over additional strategies, and ask colleagues to add their opinion/input if
we’ve missed any strategies or details.
 Survey/Questionnaire Using Google
Forms.
Please check your email to complete this short survey.

Thank You!

Email exit ticket to participants, and ask them to complete it as soon as possible.