You know why ppl show up at the very second a class/mtg starts? It can feel awkward to sit in a room quietly or walk in on a random convo. Structure your pre #zoom time. Begin w/intentionality. It doesn’t have to be content focused, community building is good too! Some ideas...

Polls! Polls are an awesome way to start. I like using text and upvoting ones. Here are examples of the same question 2 ways. First upvote. Love this format b/c participants can see each other’s responses on their devices & choose ones that resonate for them. #prezoom

Here’s the same #prezoom question in a different poll format. Students don’t see other’s responses until they appear on the screen. I like to chat about what I see and invite others to do so too. Key: the question & instructions on how to engage are visible at entry.

There’s so much you can do to build community in the moments before class and meetings #prezoom. Here’s another example: On a scale of cat, how are you feeling today?

Here’s a Where’s Waldo like task #prezoom that I shared recently. Note: instructions should be visible on the screen as they enter so no one is left to figure out what people are doing and how to engage. https://twitter.com/vijisathy/status/1354952848220581891

@ParkerHolman offered coloring. Use those annotation skills #prezoom! https://twitter.com/parkerholman/status/1354972384839786496

@jodiemartinphd offered a word search activity #prezoom. There are lots of sites for inputting a list of words & generating a word search. Give it a spin! You could have students annotate on the screen or type the words they spot in the chat window for others to find. https://twitter.com/jodiemartinphd/status/1354954796864737286

Would to hear from you! What are you doing #prezoom? Pls offer ideas that you don’t mind others “stealing.” But this is an idea that applies to online mtgs in other spaces too.)
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
#Inclusiveteaching
#Inclusivemeetings

Lastly, wanted to acknowledge that we’re all doing SO much to go above&beyond & stay afloat w/instruction these days. It’s OK if you don’t have bandwidth for thinking of #prezoom. Hope this list makes lighter work of it. Consider assigning Ss or teams in class to be in charge!