Methods and tools for creating effective teacher-student interaction in the virtual classroom

Student participation dropped significantly in teaching online and has become one of the challenges of virtual teaching. For this reason, having social and communication skills, among other skills, is one of the competencies needed by instructors to teach online courses in higher education. Therefore, one of the necessities of online teaching is developing interaction strategies to promote online class interactions. Based on this, the aim of the current research was to identify various methods and tools to create effective interaction between the instructors and students in virtual university classes.

This research was based on the qualitative approach of digital ethnography. Research data was collected using observation. The research community included the university virtual classes, which were selected using criteria-based purposeful sampling of virtual classes in the educational science department. To this end, 16 lessons related to 12 instructors (89 sessions and a total of 120 hours) were observed. In the data collection process, the researcher's role was as a non-participant observer. In addition to being descriptively recorded, the observation data or field notes were also reflected upon (the observer's perception of the situation and people).

The research findings related to various methods and tools for creating interaction were categorized into four sections, including interaction at the beginning of class, during the class, at the end of class, and outside the class. Class preparation, follow-up homework, diagnostic assessment and knowledge review were the most frequently used methods of interaction at the beginning of the class. Regarding interaction during the class, question and answer (questioning), presentation-based learning, providing feedback, using students' opinions, using motivators, managing participation, and role-playing were the most frequently used methods and techniques. Summarizing and planning, evaluation and feedback were included in the end-of-class interaction section, and in relation to out-of-class interaction, providing additional training, sending assignments, discussions, and scientific-research collaborations were the most frequently used methods. The methods and techniques that were mentioned entailed using chat tools, microphone, webcam, screen sharing, status pod, slide, Word file, video, image, survey or poll, WhatsApp, Moodle (including test plugin, assignment, forum, and file).

Based on the findings, we cannot expect to improve the quality and quantity of students' learning just by creating interaction. Rather, the effective interactions require compliance with principles and techniques such as the use of reflective questions along with descriptive ones, and awareness and overcoming obstacles to creating effective interactions. Also, the use of various tools and technologies does not necessarily lead to the effectiveness of interactions, but how to use them at the right time is more important. Another noteworthy point is that interactions outside the class (such as Feedback on assignments) are very important along with the interaction inside the virtual class. In addition, sharing experience and knowledge among professors and participating in knowledge-enhancing courses can help them become familiar with the methods and tools for creating interaction in the virtual classroom. Also, it is necessary to create opportunities for professors to practice the methods they have learned and to help them make teaching and interactions more effective by trial and error and receiving feedback.