Synchronous online course sessions can easily turn into passive experiences, leading to “Zoom fatigue” and disengaged students. But with the right strategies, virtual classrooms can become interactive, engaging, and effective. Here are five simple ways to improve student participation in synchronous online courses:
1. Start with an Icebreaker
Kick off your session with a quick activity to warm up the group:
- A fun poll (e.g., “What’s your ideal study setup?”)
- A word cloud where students share how they’re feeling
- A two-minute ‘show and tell’ of something on their desk
Building interpersonal connections from the start makes students more likely to engage throughout the session.
2. Use Polls and Live Q&A
Interactive tools like polls, quizzes, and real-time Q&A sessions can help keep students involved while also checking for understanding. Try using built-in engagement features on Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, or try gamification tools like Poll Everywhere or Mentimeter to add some variety to your teaching.
Tip: Ask a poll question every 10–15 minutes to re-engage students.
3. Incorporate Breakout Rooms
Breakout rooms can help encourage student collaboration and discussion. To make them effective:
- Provide clear instructions and discussion prompts
- Assign roles (e.g., discussion leader, note-taker)
- Have a few groups share insights when they return
Smaller discussion groups can help students stay engaged and process information actively.
4. Gamify Participation
Adding a little competition and reward can make class participation more exciting for your students. In order to gamify your virtual class session, you could try:
- Virtual badges for engagement
- Team-based challenges or quizzes
- Class leaderboards for contributions
A sense of progress and friendly competition can help students stay motivated.
5. Keep It Interactive but Manageable
Too much interaction can be overwhelming for students, so find a balance by:
- Breaking up lectures into 10–15 minute segments
- Mixing different activities (polls, discussions, and visuals)
- Checking in with students for feedback
Engagement doesn’t have to be complicated—small changes can make a big difference!
Final Thoughts
Zoom fatigue is real, but it doesn’t have to be the defining characteristic of online learning. By making small adjustments, instructors can create interactive, student-centered virtual classrooms that keep everyone engaged and learning.
Upcoming Events
Introduction to Simple Syllabus
Thursday, February 27, 3:00-3:30pm
Join us for our “Introduction to Simple Syllabus” presentation on Thursday, February 27, from 3-3:30 pm! This training will demonstrate how to use the Simple Syllabus tool to build and publish an effective syllabus for your course. The training will also cover integrating Simple Syllabus with Canvas and the benefits of using this tool in your course.
Facilitated by David Bassett, Learning Technology Manager.
Register here to recieve the Zoom link.
Clemson Online Spring 2025 Events Calendar
Review our Spring 2025 Events Calendar to see what Online Instruction Development opportunities await!
We have a robust lineup of topics and live training formats to support your use of Canvas and other e-learning tools. Topics cover demonstrations of using Kaltura, engaging your students, and workshops to get your Canvas site ready to teach!
All of our live training is recorded. Registrants will automatically receive a link to that day’s video after it has been processed.
Contact Millie Tullis with any questions regarding these sessions.
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