Both long-distance education and traditional classrooms come with their advantages and downsides. Many believe that in online classrooms lack of interactivity is the greatest issue. And in part that is very true.

Some main issues students encounter during online classes are the need for more active classroom discussions and the lack of practical hands-on tasks.

As you can see, both these issues have to do with the lack of interactivity in the online classrooms. Online students crave more hands-on experiences to reinforce the knowledge they gain during online classes.

Moreover, interactivity is a key element of the classroom environment, promoting both effective learning and a sense of community.

Here are some strategies that can help you make your virtual meetings more interactive for students.

Ways to make virtual meetings more engaging

To enhance student engagement in virtual meetings, educators can employ various interactive strategies that encourage participation and enrich the learning experience. Let’s check out some effective approaches.

1. Begin with icebreakers

The trick to making your virtual meetings fun is to make your students comfortable. So, instead of starting your meeting with a lesson, try to begin with some icebreaker games. These will help you dissolve any awkwardness and silence at the beginning of the class.

There are many options when it comes to icebreaker games, from traditional icebreaker questions to virtual scavenger hunts, you can choose whatever you want.

Icebreaker questions can range from sharing favorite hobbies to discussing recent experiences. As mentioned, this helps eliminate initial awkwardness and encourages open communication.

2. Incorporate movement

Online students spend a lot of time sitting in front of their computers without movement or any physical activity. This can lead to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and joint problems.

Incorporating physical activity, like a quick dance or stretching session at the start of the meeting, can invigorate students and foster a sense of shared experience. This boosts engagement and helps alleviate the monotony of prolonged sitting. It can also help them avoid serious health issues.

Additionally, if the class is too long, make sure you incorporate active breaks. Do squats together, do some stretching exercises, or do some meditation techniques.

3. Make the most of interactive tools

Another great way to enhance interactivity in an online class is through various interactive tools. These tools can include polls, Q&As, quizzes, surveys, and so on.

Different video conference platforms feature built-in polls, Q&A features, and other real-time feedback and engagement options that you can take advantage of.

Polls and surveys don’t take much time and offer instant feedback. Plus, they are useful for reviewing information, gathering opinions, or as a light ice-breaker.

4. Include gamification

Incorporating game-like elements, such as trivia games or scavenger hunts, can make learning more enjoyable and interactive.

Activities like solving problems in teams or finding items related to the lesson encourage collaboration, critical thinking, and a healthy sense of competition.

For instance, one great gamification element is guided debate. A new topic can be introduced through a debate. Divide your students into two groups and present them with a statement related to the topic.

One group will highlight the advantages, while the other will outline the disadvantages. Afterward, work together to find common ground. When organizing the debate, ensure effective time management and guide students to stay focused on the topic.

5. Use visual aids

Make sure your lectures aren’t boring by incorporating colorful visuals, such as pictures, charts, GIFs, and videos into presentations. These are more likely to capture students’ attention than text-heavy slides. Engaging visuals helps convey complex ideas more effectively and keeps students focused during the meeting.

Many video conferencing platforms provide interactive features that can enhance the visual appeal of your online meetings. You can utilize the platform’s digital whiteboard for interactive activities like Pictionary or doodling to keep students engaged.

6. Foster peer interaction

Whenever you can, create opportunities for peer discussions. These sorts of opportunities allow students to engage with each other on various topics.

This not only helps them articulate their thoughts but also builds a sense of community within the virtual classroom. For this, you can make the most of breakout rooms or before mentioned guided debates.

Breakout rooms are something most video conferencing platforms feature. They are sub-rooms that enable learners to break away from the main group into smaller clusters for discussions, collaborations, or focused learning activities.

7. Allow for personal sharing

Encourage students to share personal items, such as pets or favorite objects. By allowing them to share something personal, they can affirm their identities and foster a sense of belonging in the virtual space. This small gesture can significantly enhance student engagement by making them feel valued.

Introducing pets, for instance, is a great way to create a temporary distraction. These distractions can have a calming effect on students and can motivate them to take on classroom challenges more positively.

8. Incorporate silence

Just like in traditional classroom settings, you allow students some time to do exercises on their own, you can do the same in online classrooms.

Integrate moments of silence for reflection or brief writing exercises. These allow students to process information and organize their thoughts before sharing with the group.

This approach is especially beneficial for introverted learners who might require additional time to engage.

9. Student presentations

Did you know that student presentations can enhance learning effectiveness? This is because students engage with the material at a deeper level, knowing they will need to present it to their peers.

At the same time, their peers benefit from learning directly from one another, which leads to measurable advantages in understanding.

10. Virtual field trips

Who says that online students can’t go on field trips? Make the most of virtual meetings to transport your students to locations that would be impossible to visit in a physical classroom.

Virtual field trips to aquariums, museums, and other exciting places offer a fun and engaging way to refresh the environment of a virtual classroom.

Conclusion

Online classes and virtual meetings don’t have to be harder or more boring than traditional classes. With these approaches, you can transform virtual meetings into lively, interactive sessions that not only hold students’ attention but also enhance their learning outcomes.