5 Ways to Engage Introverts Using Zoom Technology

The number one question the Faculty Engagement & Development team gets from educators is: How do I get students to participate in class? We know you need more ideas to help introverted students participate, and lessen the amount of time extroverted students invariably take. We have written numerous articles, hosted many seminars and panel discussions, and coached hundreds of instructors on the subject of student engagement. And, we are not alone in this quest to better the online experience. In a recent Faculty Focus article, author’s Miller, Moniz, and Pesaturo (2022) discuss Five Ways to Engage Classroom Introverts through peer support, problem-based learning, competitive and cooperative learning, authentic and relatable assignments, and using technology effectively. To build on this informative article, I offer five ways to engage classroom introverts specifically with Zoom technology:

1. Breakout rooms. 2U trainers suggest using breakout rooms to engage students in small group discussions more than any other strategy. Why? Because it works. Breakout rooms are easy to set up and manage, even without planning. Instead of thinking breakout rooms can only be used for a well thought out activity, try using them in the moment when the class is silent. Quickly copy and paste your discussion questions into the chat and move students into breakout rooms of 3 to 4 participants, then have them answer your questions as a small group. Bring students back after 10-20 minutes to report out to the larger class.
2. Whiteboards. Open a whiteboard during your session to have students anonymously answer questions, stamp agreements, find commonalities on a venn diagram, or create pro/con lists. Or, set up a “stickies” brainstorming activity in advance using Zoom’s new, more permanent whiteboard. All the ways you use a whiteboard (or chalkboard) in a physical classroom, can be replicated on a whiteboard in a Zoom classroom. Be creative and allow students to express themselves creatively too!
3. Annotations. Zoom allows you to draw on any screen. Why not try sharing a video or image and have students annotate on top of it. For example, share an anatomy diagram and have students identify different body parts by circling or writing on top of the image. Share side by side pictures (or documents) and have students compare and contrast what changes were made by circling the differences. Or end the session by sharing an image of large pearls on a necklace and have students write one “pearl of wisdom” they learned during that session.
4. Chat. This one is easy. Instead of asking questions and expecting students to verbally answer you, require each student to write an answer in the chat. If you want to make it an assessment, change the chat to “host only” and only you will see their answers. If you want to make it anonymous, ask everyone to use the change name feature to the same symbol (like the dollar sign) and have them type their answer in the chat.
5. Polls. In case you have not heard, there is also a new polling feature in Zoom. In addition to multiple choice polls, you can now use polls for quizzes, ranking, or asking open-ended questions. Launching a pre-planned poll to engage quiet students is a great way to include everyone in sharing their knowledge.

Not sure how to use one or more of these features? Schedule a Zoom playground and a trainer would be happy to show you how to use the tool and then give you practice time playing with it.

Works Referenced: Miller, B., Moniz, I., and Pesaturo, K. (2022). Five ways to engage classroom introverts. Faculty Focus. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/five-ways-to-engage-classroom-introverts/?st=FFdaily%3Bsc%3DFF220523%3Butm_term%3DFF220523