That's such a thoughtful and proactive approach to increasing student engagement—especially your insight into students' hesitation to speak up and the tendency for certain voices to dominate. Using tools like Padlet, Google Forms, and breakout rooms really helps create low-pressure ways for students to participate.
In my synchronous sessions, I also try to mix it up. I’ve found success with live polls, collaborative Google Docs, and structured turn-taking in breakout rooms where each student has a role (e.g., note-taker, presenter, timer). I also like using the Zoom “reactions” and quick chat prompts like “type one word to describe your week” as warm-ups. It gets everyone involved without putting anyone on the spot too quickly.
I love your idea of numbering students for random participation. How do you plan to introduce that so students feel safe and not caught off guard?
