When people talk about virtual learning, the conversation almost always comes back to the tools: the platform, the breakout rooms, the polls, the chat function. But hereʼs the paradox; having the right tools doesnʼt guarantee engagement.
Some of the most feature-rich virtual sessions end up feeling the flattest. Everyone clicks, types, and reacts on cue – yet no real connection or retention is taking place.
So, whatʼs missing?
Engagement Isnʼt the Same as Activity
Itʼs tempting to equate virtual activity with engagement. Somebody completes a poll, writes in the chat, joins a breakout…. and we often count this as participation. But activity isnʼt always the same as attention, and itʼs certainly not the same as learning and retaining knowledge. The virtual environment is very different to the physical classroom. As such, its parameters for engagement should also be very different.
Think of the difference between a student who asks a thoughtful question in class, versus one who simply does “enoughˮ to fill out their worksheet. One is engaged
and learning. The other is complying and tolerating. Virtual learning environments often blur that distinction, because the signals are harder to read.
True engagement means learners are thinking for themselves, questioning, and connecting with the topic and the facilitator. Itʼs about curiosity and presence, not just digital footprint.
The Hiding Effect of the Virtual Classroom
In a physical classroom, silence feels heavy. Learners often have more social pressure on them to try their best, to answer questions, to perform. If no one responds to a question, eventually someone will. Or the facilitator can at least sense the discomfort and change pace.
In a virtual room, silence feels safe. Learners can mute, often arenʼt obliged to turn their cameras on, and vanish into the background without anyone noticing, simply leaving a name-badge on the screen. The facilitator is left speaking into a void, unsure if the session is landing or if half of the group is scrolling through social media.
This isnʼt laziness – itʼs human. Virtual spaces create a buffer that makes it easier to retreat due to less accountability. Unless a session is carefully designed to counteract that, disengagement quickly becomes the acceptable default.
Why Engagement Matters More Than Ever
At first glance, it might seem like a soft issue. Who cares if people keep their cameras off, as long as they have “attendedˮ the session?
But the blank Zoom windows hide a more concerning reality. The business impact of low engagement is serious.
In other words, engagement = investment. Online learning is more than digital attendance-taking.
Designing for Engagement, Not Assumed Participation
Hereʼs the uncomfortable truth: engagement doesnʼt happen by accident. It needs to be purpose-built.
This doesnʼt mean gimmicks. Too many virtual sessions rely on a flurry of tech and games to “keep people awakeˮ – but in reality these are just contributing to online learnersʼ cognitive overload.
Instead, engagement needs to come from intention:
- Setting clear expectations for learner participation
- Creating safe spaces where learners feel comfortable giving things a go
- Using facilitation techniques that balance structure with genuine dialogue
- Holding learners accountable, as you would in a physical classroom
When done well, these approaches create an environment where learners arenʼt just present, but invested.
A Shift in Mindset
Perhaps the bigger shift is cultural. We need to stop assuming that learning is the same in all contexts. The medium (face-to-face versus online) is different, hence so are the rules of engagement.
Rather than asking “How do we replicate the classroom virtually?ˮ, a better question could be:
“How do we facilitate learning to take advantage of the virtual format, while overcoming its unique challenges?ˮ
This is where the real innovation in learning design happens.
The Bigger Conversation
These are the themes we have been exploring in our latest research and practice. The challenge of engagement is more than a facilitation issue; it touches on learner mindset, programme design, organisational culture, accountability, and even how we typically measure success (and how we should remain flexible here).
If this resonates with you, our new white paper, “Virtual Engagement: The Hidden Challenge of Online Learning,ˮ takes a deeper dive into the obvious and less-obvious obstacles preventing us from designing and delivering impactful, memorable virtual learning sessions, as well as practical strategies to close up the gap.
If youʼre measuring ROI, start by measuring engagement.
