Best Practices: Host Engaging Synchronous Sessions

Use scheduled class time on Zoom for discussions and student-to-student activities

Many instructors have found that the best use of Zoom class time is to focus on discussion and activities that foster student-to-student interaction. This is in part because it can be easier for you to record and share lectures for students to watch asynchronously and the pre-recorded lectures can be useful study tools for students. Also, and perhaps more importantly, it provides students an opportunity to connect with each other. By allowing students the chance to interact directly with each other during the already scheduled class time, you are providing space to create connections and encouraging an intellectual exchange of ideas with their peers.

Have a GSI or student in the class monitor chat and troubleshoot technical issues

It can be difficult to focus on delivering your course materials and also address students in the Zoom chat at the same time. That is why it’s recommended that you have your GSIs manage the chat, which can include gathering questions for you to answer at a determined Q&A time, answer questions proactively in the chat themselves, and help students troubleshoot technical issues.

If you are teaching a class that doesn’t have a GSI, you can use this same approach by making it a rotating class role for a student in the class to monitor the chat. In this case, you may ask the student to hold questions for you during a designated Q&A time rather than answer the questions themselves.

Hold remote office hours each week

In preparation for short-term disruptions or to make your office hours more accessible to all students, you may consider holding remote office hours each week. This could be in addition to in-person office hours. Zoom works well for office hours and these sessions don't need to be recorded, similar to office hours you would host in person.