Making Video Calls more engaging for your classes

Video calls are designed to check in with students, ask about their well being, and the overwhelming feedback from students is that they must gain value from being present in the call. While listening to you and watching the screen is important, students need to be active and engaged in learning during the video call. 

1. Using Forms for a quiz or survey. 

Forms involve students contributing to either a survey or a quiz. There are instructions here on how to create a Form and once you have the link to share, you can paste this in to the meeting chat for students to complete during the Video Call.

2. Contribute to a shared file. 

To enable students to work in the same place at the same time, you may like to create a Word or OneNote file in the Files section of your class Team. Remember not to put the file in the Class Materials folder, as this folder is read only for students. 

You may like to create a table for students so they know where they are expected to work and so that multiple students do not work in the same place at the same time. Once created you can get the link to the file and paste this in to the Video call chat: 

3. Use Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms are great for small group discussions, much like you would do in your face-to-face classroom. 

There are great instructions here on how to set up Breakout Rooms in your video call. 

4. Use the Whiteboard

The whiteboard is a great tool for students to collaborate. As the teacher you can quickly switch between being the only person who can write on the whiteboard or all students being able to edit the whiteboard. Watch this great video clip for details on how to use the whiteboard in your video calls.  

Other ideas:

Share your screen, show a brief video clip, pausing at specific points and asking students for feedback either via discussion or chat post or shared file contribution above. 

Ask students to share their screen and show the work they have been doing. 

Invite a guest speaker to your video call