Get students engaged with the Zoom chat by using the waterfall response strategy. Here are the directions:
Split your class into 2 groups.
Read the question or prompt. Students in Group 1 type an individual response into the chat, BUT DO NOT SEND.
Group 1 students release his/her response when instructed by the teacher. (“on the count of 3.”)
You will see a waterfall of chat where everyone’s responses come in at the same time. Allow time to read.
Now ask Group 2 to review the responses and publicly comment, BUT DO NOT SEND until the teacher says so. (“on the count of 3.”)
Allow time to read the waterfall.
Debrief. Follow-up if necessary and as appropriate.
Switch roles with a different question or prompt.
Benefits to this strategy: By delaying when students release their responses, all students can participate during Zoom and not feel pressured to follow-up on the latest comment or remark in the Zoom chat. Even if students have similar remarks or comments, the individual students still have ownership of his or her response and he or she feels engaged in the class.
Be sure to ask questions that foster conversation as opposed to questions that kill conversations (e.g., Should the US have entered into World War 2? vs. When did the US enter World War 2?)
Here is a Google Slides view-only waterfall template to help you get started. The first slide has directions for the waterfall strategy with space for students' names. The following slides have space to insert a question and sentence starters to help students get started with the conversations. If you are interested in using this template, please go to File and Make a Copy.
Extra tip: If you’re monitoring and reviewing participation later, quickly save the Zoom chat by clicking on the ellipsis button in the Zoom chat and select Save Chat. This will save as a text document file, most likely under Documents > Zoom > folder of meeting date.
