5 Ways to Engage Invisible Students

In the responses to the mid-semester check in survey, we heard many faculty struggling with how to teach students they couldn't see. Here are some ideas to connect with students, whether or not you can see their faces. 

1. Invite students to turn their cameras on

Tell students you want to see them. Paint a picture of the kind of environment you'd like to build with them, and talk about how video can help support connection and learning. Invite them to keep cameras on if possible, without requiring it Links to an external site.. If not, invite them to upload an image to Zoom Links to an external site. to represent them if their cameras can't be on.

2. Connect before class - cameras on or off

Use the first few minutes of class to check in in the chat window. You can ask about how they're doing, elicit questions about class, or do a stress-relieving, silly question (one teacher has students vote on whether a daily song is a "Bop or Flop"). More community-building ideas here Links to an external site.. 

3. Pauses regularly for interactive activities 

Whether or not students have cameras on, have them participate in quick groups or Zoom chats. For example, in a small class, try a "Ready, Set, Go" approach: ask students a critical-thinking question, then students write responses in their chat window. Finally, after a set amount of time, everyone hits "enter" at the same time. Click links to learn more about online live discussion tips Links to an external site., or active-learning strategies that work especially well in large or lecture classes. 

4. Use Zoom non-verbals to check for understanding

After a chunk of teaching, ask students to let you know if they're ready to move on by typing Y or N in the chat. You can also have students respond with a scale: 1= lost and 5 = ready to teach it myself! (One teacher asked students to hold up a piece of paper with a plus or minus to quickly assess the class's understanding).

5. Find other ways to build relationships

Asynchronous online instructors often build relationships with students, sometimes without ever seeing them. This connection typically happens through the context of the class, whether that is simply by reading and responding to assignments and discussion boards; using short, weekly check-in surveys; holding one-on-one check-ins; or by having students share reflective activities. These activities could include mid-semester letters to you about their progress, content reflection papers, or perhaps a journal-like assignment where course content is connected to their own experiences, goals, and interests. 

For more tips on online teaching and learning, visit our Canvas Professional Development page.