This focuses on what activities can be done in the synchronous video environment. This recognizes that the students’ behaviour indicates engagement in the activity. Typically in the classroom this can be easily observed because as it equates with “participation,” a teacher may visually see how involved a student is. In the synchronous video environment this may be more difficult to judge not only because the camera generally captures a person’s chest and up, but also because if students have their cameras turned off, then it is visually impossible to gauge behavioural engagement. Of course, if students’ microphones are on, then a teacher may be able to hear them and judge engagement that way, but that becomes more difficult to assess.
So what kinds of activities can be done in the synchronous video environment that encourage behavioural engagement? Primarily a teacher may want as many of the students as possible with their video cameras on. Once that is the baseline, there can be things to do while on camera that may keep students engaged. On the following pages there are video explanations of virtual backgrounds, props, and filters.