Mike Lovell is the SVP of Marketing at Class. He has dedicated his career to technology and the applications that can innovate the way people live and learn.
Mike Lovell is the SVP of Marketing at Class. He has dedicated his career to technology and the applications that can innovate the way people live and learn.
Learner engagement has become a critical issue for educators. From cell phone distractions to behavioral disruptions and more, the ability to keep students engaged in their coursework remains a significant challenge for instructors. Oftentimes, instructors believe that retaining student engagement is even more difficult in a virtual setting; however, real-time data is showing that, even with low-tech options, virtual classrooms can provide the very tools, with high ease and accessibility, that actually have a great impact on learner engagement.
In this article, we’ll explore practical, low-barrier strategies that leverage accessible technology to foster interactivity and participation in live virtual classrooms.
It’s fairly common for instructors to become overwhelmed with the idea of digital tools and platforms, fearing a high barrier to entry, concerns over integration with existing tools, and the potential that students will struggle to utilize the tools effectively. For virtual learning, “low-tech” doesn’t mean “no tech.” Low-tech strategies simply enhance engagement without the required advanced tools or infrastructure. These strategies leverage existing foundational infrastructure such as virtual classroom platforms, LMSs, and other similarly common technologies.
As Derek Bruff, outgoing director of Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching, notes in an article for Inside Higher Ed, “Extensive technology may be necessary in some teaching contexts, but not in others, and it can be helpful for institutions to think about active learning classroom development in ‘tiers,’ from low tech to high tech.”
Low-tech strategies rely on accessibility, user-friendly tools, and the promotion of collaboration. Tools such as shared documents, slides, and simple apps can promote group work, critical thinking, and increased engagement. These low-tech approaches can often be more accessible for instructors and curriculum designers because they reduce complexity, support inclusivity, and lower the barrier to participation by taking tech “savviness” out of the equation for learners.
Additionally, according to a 2024 EdWeek article, evidence shows that “students from the lowest-income families are the most likely to attend schools that do not systematically vet their education technology.” Because some districts do not have the financial means to purchase the most effective technology, they can often expose their students to apps and tech that contain advertising and other potentially non-beneficial materials. By leveraging accessible, affordable low-tech options first, schools prioritize their students’ learning—and safety—as well.
As noted above, low tech doesn’t mean operating without technology at all, so simplicity and accessibility are key to creating highly engaging environments through these tools. In fact, a recent study by the University of Chicago's Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab, led by Ariel Kalil, “has demonstrated that interactive, well-designed digital interventions, that support all the participants of the learning process, can bridge the math gap between low- and high-income families.” Let’s explore some examples of how low-tech strategies can support virtual engagement.
Common tools like Google Docs and OneNote can be utilized to create shared, interactive digital worksheets that students can work within in real-time. Whether in full-class sessions or breakout rooms, these easily navigable tools foster a common location for students to engage with one another collaboratively.
Example: When brainstorming for a science fair project, encourage students to open a shared document they can all access together to cast ideas and even vote for potentially successful topics.
Benefit: This approach encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and teamwork.
Google Slides activity in a breakout room
As students are learning throughout the course, encourage them to maintain a digital journal where they can reflect on lessons, make predictions, or summarize concepts in their own words. Evidence shows that synthesizing material once learned helps with retention and understanding.
Example: After completing a history unit, ask students to write a journal entry imagining themselves as a historical figure from that time, reflecting on their experiences and challenges.
Benefit: This approach promotes critical thinking, written communication, and personal connection to the material.
When organizing students into breakout rooms, assign specific roles or group tasks within those rooms and support this with shared templates or worksheets for guidance. This provides structure and focus while also allowing learners to take control of the process.
Example: Facilitate preparation for a debate where each individual is assigned a role and provided with an accompanying shared document to organize their research, arguments, and thought process.
Benefit: This approach encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and real-world application of knowledge.
Interactive read-alongs and storytelling activities are powerful ways to make reading and writing lessons more engaging. By involving students directly in the process—whether through co-creating a story or analyzing an existing text—you transform passive learning into active participation. This not only enhances literacy skills but also fosters creativity and collaboration.
Example: For read-alongs, invite students to annotate passages in real-time using digital tools, highlighting key themes or posing questions to their peers. For storytelling, encourage groups to brainstorm and write original narratives, where each student adds their unique voice and ideas to the evolving plot.
Benefit: This approach fosters creativity, literacy, and group collaboration.
Another way to check on the engagement level—as well as successful retention of materials—is to leverage the power of polling tools for instant feedback on the delivery process or even utilizing quick quizzes for immediate knowledge checks during live sessions. The results of these can help drive the direction—and methodology—of the course to ensure students are grasping the materials effectively.
Benefit: This approach promotes active participation and gauges understanding in real-time.
By blending accessible technology with creative teaching methods, instructors can improve engagement in live virtual classrooms. These strategies prove that notable, repeatable results can be obtained with creative low-tech options that have much lower barriers to entry. By adopting and experimenting with these strategies, instructors can create dynamic, inclusive, accessible, and interactive learning environments that keep the learner at the center of the process. This isn’t to say that more advanced tools don’t have their place—they certainly do—but, for instructors who are hesitant to leverage tech tools or fear that too much time will be needed for training, low-tech options can be the foundation for leveraging technology tools to create engaging, active learner-centric experiences.
Are you ready to leverage the power of low-tech strategies with your learners? Reach out to a Class team member today, and let’s heighten the levels of engagement in your virtual classrooms.
Mike Lovell is the SVP of Marketing at Class. He has dedicated his career to technology and the applications that can innovate the way people live and learn.
Mike Lovell is the SVP of Marketing at Class. He has dedicated his career to technology and the applications that can innovate the way people live and learn.
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