How can you use Zoom to increase student engagement in online learning?

1 Tip 1: Set clear expectations

Before you start using Zoom, make sure you communicate clearly with your students about the purpose, format, and expectations of your online sessions. For example, you can create a Zoom etiquette guide that covers topics such as how to join, mute, chat, raise hand, share screen, and use breakout rooms. You can also explain how you will assess participation, attendance, and collaboration during Zoom sessions. By setting clear expectations, you can help your students prepare for online learning and avoid confusion and frustration.

2 Tip 2: Use interactive features

Zoom offers a variety of features that can help you make your online sessions more interactive and engaging. For example, you can use polls to check understanding, gather feedback, or spark discussion. You can also use annotations to draw, highlight, or add text to your shared screen. You can also use reactions to encourage students to express their emotions, opinions, or agreement. By using interactive features, you can increase student involvement, attention, and retention.

3 Tip 3: Create breakout rooms

Breakout rooms are small groups of students that can work together in separate Zoom sessions. You can use breakout rooms to facilitate group work, peer feedback, or role play activities. You can also join and monitor different breakout rooms to provide guidance, support, or feedback. By creating breakout rooms, you can promote student collaboration, communication, and socialization.

4 Tip 4: Invite guest speakers

Another way to use Zoom to increase student engagement in online learning is to invite guest speakers to your online sessions. Guest speakers can be experts, practitioners, or alumni who can share their insights, experiences, or perspectives on your course topic. You can also prepare some questions for the guest speaker and invite your students to ask their own questions. By inviting guest speakers, you can enrich your course content, expose your students to different viewpoints, and inspire them to learn more.

5 Tip 5: Record and share sessions

Recording and sharing your Zoom sessions can be beneficial for both you and your students. For you, recording your sessions can help you review your teaching performance, identify areas for improvement, or create reusable learning materials. For your students, recording your sessions can help them review the content, catch up on missed sessions, or reinforce their learning. By recording and sharing your sessions, you can enhance your teaching quality and your students' learning outcomes.

6 Tip 6: Solicit feedback

The last tip on how to use Zoom to increase student engagement in online learning is to solicit feedback from your students. You can use Zoom's survey feature to create and send anonymous surveys to your students after each session. You can also use other tools such as Google Forms, Padlet, or Mentimeter to collect feedback. By soliciting feedback, you can evaluate your students' satisfaction, learning progress, and challenges, and adjust your teaching accordingly.