Engagement
How do you drive engagement in a virtual classroom?
Driving engagement in virtual classrooms requires intentional design, active facilitation, and consistent reinforcement throughout the learning experience.
Engagement doesn’t happen by chance in virtual learning. It must be intentionally designed into the structure of the session and then deliberately facilitated in real time. Instructional designers build engagement by aligning content with clear objectives, integrating platform tools (like polls, chat, and breakout rooms), and pacing the session to reduce cognitive overload. Facilitators bring that design to life—setting the tone, encouraging contribution, and making learners feel seen and valued.
Use the InQuire Engagement Framework® to plan across three critical dimensions:
- Emotional engagement: Make learners feel connected and included.
- Intellectual engagement: Challenge thinking through questions and application.
- Environmental engagement: Leverage the virtual tools that support interaction.
Design + Facilitation = Engagement. When both are aligned, learners aren’t just attending—they’re participating, reflecting, and applying.
Engagement Strategies:
- Design for Interaction: Build in engagement every 3–5 minutes.
- Facilitate with Presence: Use vocal energy, humor, and personal connection.
- Use Tools with Purpose: Don't use polls, whiteboards, or chat just for variety—use them to support learning.
- Watch the Learners: Adapt in real time based on energy, responses, and silence.
Additional Resources: