15 ways to keep students engaged in online schooling

Keeping students engaged in online schooling can be challenging for K–12 virtual teachers and educators. Unlike traditional classrooms, a virtual learning environment can often introduce challenges like distractions, reduced interaction, and a lack of immediate feedback. However, student engagement is crucial for effective learning and overall success in online courses. In this blog post, we’ll explore 15 strategies to help educators keep their online students engaged and foster a productive learning experience.

1. Interactive lessons

Interactive tools like Kahoot and Quizlet can transform a dull lesson into an engaging activity. These platforms allow teachers to enhance their digital curriculum by creating fun quizzes and games that make learning more interactive and enjoyable for students. Incorporating quizzes, polls, and interactive whiteboards can make lessons more dynamic and maintain student interest.

In virtual classrooms, these tools can be utilized in various ways. For example, teachers can start a lesson with a Kahoot quiz to review previous material, instantly engaging students and setting a lively tone for the class. Quizlet can be used for creating flashcards and matching games that students can use for self-study or in group activities. These tools can also be integrated into breakout rooms during online classes, facilitating small group discussions and collaborative problem-solving.

Interactive whiteboards, such as Jamboard or the whiteboard feature in Zoom, allow students to collaborate in real time, drawing, writing, and sharing ideas as if they were in a physical classroom. Teachers can use polls on platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams to gauge student understanding and adjust the lesson on the fly, ensuring that everyone is following along.

Interactive lessons not only engage students but also cater to different learning styles and encourage active participation. For instance, visual learners benefit from the graphical elements in these tools, while kinesthetic learners enjoy the hands-on interaction. By incorporating these technologies, educators can create a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment that keeps students motivated and involved—even in a virtual setting.

2. Incorporating multimedia

Using videos, podcasts, and animations can make complex concepts easier to understand and more engaging. Multimedia caters to various learning styles and can break the monotony of traditional text-based lessons. Platforms like YouTube and educational podcasts offer a wealth of resources for enriching the online learning experience.

For instance, teachers can use YouTube videos to provide visual explanations of scientific phenomena, historical events, or mathematical concepts. Educational channels like Khan Academy, TED-Ed, and CrashCourse offer high-quality content that can supplement the curriculum and provide students with different perspectives. 

Study Hall, a partnership with Arizona State University, Crash Course, and YouTube is especially helpful, offering a wide range of videos.

Podcasts are another excellent resource for auditory learners. Teachers can assign specific episodes from educational podcasts like “Science Vs” for science topics, “Stuff You Missed in History Class” for historical insights, or “Grammar Girl” for language lessons. These podcasts often feature expert interviews and in-depth discussions that can enhance students’ understanding of complex subjects.

Animations can simplify and illustrate challenging concepts, making them more accessible. Platforms like BrainPOP and Explain Everything can be used to create custom animations that visualize abstract ideas, such as the water cycle, the process of photosynthesis, or the intricacies of the human body. These animations can be integrated into virtual classroom presentations or shared as supplementary material for students to review at their own pace.

By thoughtfully integrating multimedia resources, educators can create a more dynamic and inclusive virtual classroom environment that caters to the diverse learning preferences of their students.

3. Real-time feedback

Providing immediate feedback is essential for keeping students engaged and improving their learning outcomes. Feedback plays a crucial role in the educational process by helping students recognize their strengths and areas for improvement. In a virtual environment, feedback becomes even more critical as students may feel isolated and disconnected from their peers and instructors. Immediate feedback helps bridge this gap, creating a more interactive and supportive learning experience.

In a virtual setting, instructors can leverage various tools to provide timely feedback. For instance, they can use video conferencing platforms to discuss assignments in real-time, employ online quizzes with instant results, or utilize collaborative documents where comments and suggestions can be added instantly. Additionally, virtual office hours and one-on-one sessions can offer personalized feedback, ensuring that each student receives the attention they need.

Effective feedback in a virtual environment not only enhances understanding but also fosters a sense of community. By creating a continuous loop of communication, instructors can maintain a connection with their students, address their concerns promptly, and adapt teaching methods to better suit individual learning styles. This approach ensures that students remain engaged, motivated, and empowered to achieve their academic goals.

4. Breakout rooms for group work

Using breakout rooms can foster collaboration and keep online students engaged by allowing them to work on group projects, discuss topics in-depth, and build a sense of community within the virtual classroom.

Here are some ideas for effectively using breakout rooms:

1. Group Projects: Assign students to different breakout rooms to work collaboratively on group projects. This gives them the opportunity to divide tasks, brainstorm ideas, and create a cohesive final product.
2. Peer Review Sessions: Use breakout rooms for peer review activities where students can give and receive feedback on each other’s work. This promotes critical thinking and constructive criticism.
3. Debate and Discussion: Organize debates or in-depth discussions on specific topics. Assign different viewpoints to each group and let them deliberate before presenting their positions to the larger class.
4. Role Playing: Engage students in role-playing activities to better understand historical events, literary characters, or real-world scenarios. Breakout rooms provide a private space for students to develop and rehearse their roles.
5. Problem-Solving Exercises: Present a problem or case study and assign each group to a breakout room to develop a solution. Later, they can reconvene in the main room to share and compare their solutions.
6. Icebreaker Activities: Use breakout rooms for smaller, more personal icebreaker activities at the beginning of the course. This helps students get to know each other and builds a sense of camaraderie.
7. Focused Study Groups: Create breakout rooms for focused study sessions where students can help each other understand difficult concepts or prepare for exams.
8. Tutoring and Mentoring: Allocate breakout rooms for tutoring sessions or mentoring where students can receive personalized help or guidance from peers or instructors.

By incorporating these ideas, breakout rooms can be a powerful tool to enhance learning, foster engagement, and build a strong community within the virtual classroom.

5. Gamification

Introducing gamified learning elements like badges, leaderboards, and points can make learning fun and competitive. Research shows that gamification can increase student engagement by up to 50% and improve retention rates by 30%. 

To gamify online lessons, consider incorporating the following ideas:

1. Points System: Award points for completing tasks and participating in discussions.
2. Badges and Rewards: Offer badges for milestones or exceptional work to recognize student achievements.
3. Leaderboards: Display leaderboards to foster a sense of competition and motivate students.
4. Challenges and Quests: Create challenges and quests related to the course material to encourage active learning.
5. Level Progression: Allow students to progress through levels as they master the content, providing a clear sense of advancement.

For even more ideas, check out our blog, Top 10 digital tools in the classroom for teachers.

6. Creating a routine

Establishing a consistent schedule for online classes helps students manage their time and stay focused. A routine provides structure and predictability, which can reduce stress and improve engagement. Consistent start times, regular breaks, and clear expectations can make a significant difference. Here are a few tips to help students of all ages develop and stick to an effective virtual learning routine:

1. Set Specific Goals: Encourage students to set realistic, achievable goals for their daily and weekly learning activities. Having clear objectives can guide their focus and provide motivation.
2. Take Regular Breaks: Stress the importance of taking short breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout. Encourage the use of the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break.
3. Involve Parents and Guardians: For younger students, involve parents or guardians in establishing and maintaining the routine. Their support can provide additional structure and accountability.
4. Regular Check-Ins: Encourage students to periodically review their routines and make adjustments as needed. Regular check-ins with teachers or mentors can help identify areas for improvement.
5. Stay Flexible: Understand that routines may need to adapt to changing circumstances. Encourage students to remain flexible and open to adjustments while still maintaining a general structure.

7. Encourage participation

Encouraging active participation is key to keeping students engaged. Strategies to engage shy or reluctant students include using polls, Q&A sessions, and interactive whiteboards. Calling on students by name and creating a safe space for sharing ideas can also boost participation.

In a virtual environment, maintaining engagement can be more challenging, but there are several effective tips to encourage student participation:

1. Breakout Rooms: Utilize breakout rooms for small group discussions where students may feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts.
2. Interactive Tools: Leverage digital tools like interactive quizzes, gamified learning platforms, and collaborative documents to make learning fun and interactive.
3. Regular Check-ins: Conduct regular check-ins and one-on-one meetings to understand individual student needs and apprehensions.
4. Clear Instructions: Provide clear and concise instructions for activities and assignments to ensure students understand what is expected of them.
5. Feedback Mechanisms: Implement real-time feedback mechanisms to address questions and concerns promptly.
6. Visual and Auditory Cues: Use visual and auditory cues to grab students’ attention and keep them focused during virtual lessons.
7. Encourage Peer Interaction: Facilitate peer interaction through group projects and peer review sessions to build a sense of community.
8. Reward Participation: Recognize and reward active participation with verbal praise, badges, or other incentives to motivate students.

By integrating these strategies, educators can create a more dynamic and engaging virtual learning environment, encouraging all students to participate actively.

8. Foster a sense of community

Building a classroom community through regular interactions and social activities is crucial in an online setting. Virtual icebreakers, team-building activities, and discussion forums can help create a sense of belonging and engagement. Platforms like Padlet and Flipgrid facilitate community-building among online students.

To expand on this, here are a few fun and engaging ways to build community in virtual classrooms:

1. Virtual Icebreakers: Start each class with a quick icebreaker to help students get to know each other. Examples include “Two Truths and a Lie,” where students share three statements about themselves, and their peers guess which one is false, or “Show and Tell,” where students present something interesting from their surroundings.
2. Team Projects: Assign group projects that require collaboration. Tools like Google Docs and Zoom breakout rooms can facilitate teamwork. Make sure to rotate groups so students have the opportunity to work with different classmates.
3. Discussion Forums: Create a discussion forum where students can share thoughts on class topics, ask questions, and discuss ideas. Encourage participation by posing thought-provoking questions and responding to posts to keep the conversation going.
4. Virtual Study Groups: Organize virtual study groups where students can review material together, ask questions, and help each other understand difficult concepts. These can be set up via Zoom or other video conferencing platforms.
5. Classroom Challenges: Host friendly competitions or challenges related to the course material. For example, a trivia quiz using Kahoot or a coding challenge for a computer science class can spark excitement and engagement.
6. Social Media Integration: Create a private class social media group where students can share updates, post interesting articles, and interact informally. Platforms like Facebook or Slack can be effective for this purpose.
7. Guest Speakers and Virtual Field Trips: Invite guest speakers from various industries to talk about their experiences and relate them to class topics. Additionally, virtual field trips to museums, laboratories, or historical sites can enrich the learning experience and provide a shared activity for students to discuss.
8. Interactive Platforms: Utilize interactive platforms like Padlet and Flipgrid to encourage students to express themselves creatively. For example, students can create video responses to prompts or collaborate on a shared digital board to brainstorm ideas.

By incorporating these activities, educators can foster a vibrant, interactive, and supportive online classroom community, enhancing both the learning experience and student engagement.

9. Personalized learning

Tailoring lessons to meet individual student needs can significantly boost engagement. Personalized learning plans and differentiated instruction allow students to learn at their own pace and focus on areas where they need improvement. Implementing strategies such as one-on-one tutoring, flexible learning schedules, and adaptive learning technologies can make a substantial difference.

For instance, creating individualized learning plans can help address each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Teachers can use formative assessments to identify specific areas that need attention and then tailor their instruction accordingly. Offering choice in assignments and projects can also cater to different learning styles and interests, fostering a more inclusive and engaging learning environment.

Tools like Khan Academy and IXL offer personalized learning experiences by adapting to each student’s performance. Khan Academy provides a range of practice exercises that adjust in difficulty based on the user’s responses, ensuring that learners are continually challenged yet not overwhelmed. IXL uses real-time diagnostics to pinpoint student needs and provides practice recommendations tailored to those needs.

Other useful tools include Google Classroom, which allows for easy assignment differentiation and feedback, and Nearpod, which offers interactive lessons and assessments that can be customized for individual learning paths. 

By leveraging these tools and strategies, educators can create a more dynamic and responsive learning experience that meets the diverse needs of their students.

10. Incorporate hands-on activities

Incorporating hands-on activities like at-home experiments, projects, and DIY tasks can make learning more experiential and engaging. These activities not only reinforce theoretical knowledge but also make learning fun and memorable. For a virtual learning environment, it’s important to choose activities that can be accomplished with common household items to ensure equity. Here are a few ideas:

1. Science Experiments: Simple experiments like making a volcano with baking soda and vinegar, growing crystals using salt or sugar, or creating a homemade lava lamp with oil, water, and food coloring. These experiments provide a tactile way to understand scientific concepts.
2. Art Projects: Art supplies like paper, scissors, glue, and colored pencils can be used to create collages, draw illustrations related to a topic, or design posters. Students can share their creations via video call or by taking pictures.
3. Cooking and Chemistry: Cooking is a great way to explore measurements, chemical reactions, and following instructions. Baking bread, making ice cream in a bag, or creating edible slime with cornstarch and water can be both educational and delicious.
4. Engineering Challenges: Tasks like building a bridge from straws and tape, creating a tower using only paper and tape, or designing a parachute for a small toy using a plastic bag and string can introduce basic engineering and physics concepts.
5. Mathematics in Real Life: Use household items to explore math concepts. For example, counting and sorting objects, measuring ingredients for a recipe, or creating patterns with different items like buttons or coins can make math tangible and fun.
6. Environmental Science: Activities like starting a small compost bin, growing plants from kitchen scraps, or observing and recording weather changes can help students learn about nature and sustainability.

These activities not only make learning more interactive but also ensure that all students can participate fully, regardless of their access to specialized materials.

11. Monitor and support student well-being

Recognizing signs of stress and disengagement is crucial for maintaining student well-being, especially in virtual environments. Students may exhibit various behaviors that indicate they are struggling, such as consistent absences from online classes, a decline in academic performance, or a lack of participation in discussions. 

Other signs can include noticeable changes in mood such as irritability, sadness, or withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities. Students or their guardians might alert you to physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or changes in sleep patterns, which can also be indicators of stress.

Providing resources and support for mental health can help students cope with the challenges of online learning. These resources might include access to mental health professionals, workshops on stress management, and materials on effective study habits and time management.

Regular check-ins can make a significant difference. Teachers and counselors should make an effort to reach out to students regularly to discuss their progress and well-being. Virtual counseling sessions can offer a private and safe space for students to express their concerns and receive guidance. By staying vigilant and proactive, educators can help ensure that students remain engaged and mentally healthy in an online learning environment.

12. Use storytelling

Integrating storytelling into lessons can make them more relatable and interesting. Stories capture students’ attention and make complex concepts easier to understand. This approach works across all grade levels to engage students and foster critical thinking, creativity, and emotional connection to the material.

For younger students, storytelling can help develop language skills and imagination. Teachers can use picture books, puppet shows, and interactive story apps like Epic! to make stories come alive. Middle school students can benefit from digital storytelling tools like Adobe Spark or Book Creator to create and share their own stories, enhancing both their technological and narrative skills. High school students can explore more complex narratives through podcasting or creating video essays using WeVideo, which allows them to delve deeper into content analysis and presentation skills.

Additionally, virtual storytelling sessions can be conducted using video conferences, where teachers can share screen presentations, read stories aloud, and even invite guest storytellers to diversify the narrative experience.

By embedding storytelling into virtual and in-person classrooms, educators can make learning more dynamic and impactful across all grade levels.

13. Guest speakers and virtual field trips

Inviting experts and professionals to speak on relevant topics can provide new perspectives and excite students. These interactions make learning more engaging by connecting academic content to real-world applications, showing students the relevance of what they are studying.

Organizing virtual tours to museums, historical sites, and other places of interest can also enhance the learning experience. These tours allow students to explore and interact with environments they might not otherwise have access to, making their education feel more tangible and immersive. Platforms like Google Arts & Culture offer virtual field trip opportunities that bring the world into the classroom, fostering a deeper connection to the material and sparking curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

14. Assign creative projects

Encouraging creativity with projects like digital art, videos, and presentations can significantly boost engagement and understanding among students. Creative assignments not only allow students to express themselves but also enable them to apply their knowledge in innovative and meaningful ways. Utilizing tools like Canva simplifies the process of creating visually appealing projects, making creativity more accessible.

For reading, teachers can assign book trailers or comic strips that summarize key plot points and themes, aligning with standards that emphasize comprehension and analytical skills. Students could also create character diaries or social media profiles for characters in a novel, encouraging deeper character analysis and engagement with the text.

In math, students could design infographics to represent data or solve complex problems visually, meeting standards related to data interpretation and problem-solving. Another idea is to create instructional videos where students explain math concepts, thereby reinforcing their understanding and ability to communicate mathematical ideas clearly.

For science, project-based learning can be particularly impactful. Students could create time-lapse videos of experiments, develop virtual poster presentations on scientific topics, or even design a digital model of a scientific concept using 3D rendering software.

In social studies, students can develop interactive timelines, digital maps, or documentary-style videos to explore historical events or social issues. These projects not only adhere to standards related to historical analysis and critical thinking but also make learning more interactive and engaging.

Incorporating creative projects across different subjects fosters a more dynamic and engaging learning environment. By embracing creativity, teachers can help students develop a wider range of skills and a deeper understanding of the material.

15. Regular assessments and reflection

Conducting formative assessments to gauge understanding and using student reflections to adjust teaching strategies are essential for continuous improvement. Regular quizzes, surveys, and reflection journals help students track their progress and provide valuable feedback for educators.

In a virtual environment, delivering formative assessments effectively requires creativity and the use of various digital tools. Here are some tips, tricks, and ideas to enhance formative assessments online:

1. Interactive Quizzes: Utilize platforms like Kahoot!, Quizizz, or Google Forms to create engaging quizzes that provide instant feedback to students.
2. Discussion Boards: Encourage students to express their understanding and reflections on online discussion boards. Tools like Padlet or forums in your Learning Management System (LMS) can be very useful.
3. Virtual Exit Tickets: At the end of a lesson, ask students to submit a quick response concerning what they learned. Tools like Google Jamboard or a simple Google Forms survey can serve this purpose.
4. Peer Assessments: Utilize breakout rooms in tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams to facilitate peer assessments. Students can provide feedback on each other’s work, which promotes collaborative learning.
5. Reflection Journals: Have students maintain digital reflection journals using platforms like Google Docs or Microsoft OneNote. Regular reflections can help them track their learning journey.
6. Polling Tools: Use live polling tools such as Slido or Poll Everywhere during virtual lessons to check for understanding in real-time.
7. Interactive Videos: Incorporate tools like Edpuzzle to add interactive questions within video lessons. This ensures students are actively engaging with the content.
8. Digital Whiteboards: Utilize digital whiteboards like Microsoft Whiteboard or Miro for students to demonstrate their thought processes and problem-solving steps.
9. Formative Assessment Apps: Leverage apps designed specifically for formative assessments, such as Socrative or Formative, which allow for a variety of question types and immediate analysis.

By incorporating these strategies, educators can effectively deliver formative assessments in a virtual environment, ensuring continuous improvement and engagement in the learning process.

Conclusion

Ready to take your online teaching to the next level? Start experimenting with these strategies today and watch your students’ engagement soar!

Helping K–12 teachers master the art of virtual teaching

Interested in harnessing the power of virtual learning environments? ASU Prep Global provides professional development opportunities designed to elevate teachers’ skills and knowledge to new heights. 

Explore flexible online courses or in-person sessions, like “Thriving as a Digital Teacher,” where participants learn to translate teaching experience to an online environment, digging deeper into best practices of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. 

Whether you need upskilling on emerging technology, digital tools, virtual teaching strategies, and more, we can customize delivery based on your school or district’s needs. 

ASU Prep Global partners with other K–12 schools to build new models of educational success, embed early college experiences and provide access to the latest innovative technologies, digital courseware, and professional development. We’re more than a curriculum provider—we’re an innovation partner to top schools and school districts. 

We help our partners create high-impact, high-quality digital education that meets the unique needs of their learners and staff. We’re passionate about partnering with school leaders to help innovate learning for K–12 students and educators through Arizona State University-led research, proven effective learning practices, and industry-leading online education technology.

15 Ways to keep students engaged in online schooling FAQs

What strategies can be used to increase engagement in online learning environments?

1. Utilize interactive courseware: Digital courseware that incorporates dynamic elements such as videos, simulations, and games can help keep students engaged and interested in the material.
2. Incorporate real-world examples: Connecting the material to real-life situations and scenarios can make it more relatable and engaging for students.
3. Encourage collaboration: Online learning does not have to be a solitary experience. Encourage students to work together on projects or discussions through virtual platforms like Google Docs or Zoom.
4. Use multimedia tools: Engage different learning styles by using various multimedia tools such as podcasts, infographics, and interactive quizzes.
5. Provide timely feedback: Regular feedback helps students stay motivated and engaged in their learning progress. Make use of online grading.

How can you help students stay engaged in online classes?

One way to help students stay engaged in online classes is by incorporating real-world examples into the content. By connecting the material to relatable situations and scenarios, it can make the learning experience more interesting and relevant for students. This can also help them see the practical applications of what they are learning.

Another way is to encourage collaboration among students. Online learning does not have to be a solitary experience. Encourage students to work together on projects or discussions through virtual platforms like Google Docs or Zoom. This not only fosters a sense of community but also allows students to learn from each other and share different perspectives.

Using multimedia tools can also keep students engaged in online classes. Different learners have different preferences, so incorporating various multimedia tools such as podcasts, infographics, and videos can cater to different learning styles. This also adds variety to the class and makes the content more interesting.

Additionally, providing real-life examples and case studies can help students connect theoretical concepts with practical situations. This not only enhances their understanding but also helps them see the relevance of what they are learning in the real world.