Let’s face it—virtual training fatigue is real. We’ve all seen it: the blank stares, the cameras off, the “Sorry, can you repeat the question?” moments. But engagement in virtual instructor-led training (vILT) doesn’t have to be a battle to keep learners awake. With the right techniques and tools, you can turn passive participants into energized contributors—no coffee required.
Here are five high-impact, low-overhead strategies to bring energy and interaction to your next vILT session:
1. Grab Them from the Beginning
We all know about WIIFM—What’s In It For Me—but too often it’s just slapped onto a slide and read aloud. I believe it needs to go deeper. Learners crave connection—not just to the topic, but to why it matters to them personally. And it’s our job as facilitators to create that space.
One of my favorite ways to do this is by opening with a purpose question—a thoughtful prompt that encourages learners to reflect, become fully present, and connect to the topic in a meaningful way.
Here’s an example from a DiSC session I recently facilitated:
Purpose Question: Why is it important for you to be here today discussing DiSC?
- For your team?
- For your organization?
- For your community or the world?
I give learners a minute or two to reflect in their workbooks—no talking, just music playing softly in the background. Then I guide them into breakout rooms with clear instructions on what to share and how long they have. When they return, I invite a few participants to share something they heard, noticed, or appreciated.
This process creates psychological safety, builds connection, and sets the tone for meaningful engagement.
Note: I recently became a Certified xchange Guide and have started incorporating their Connect choreography into my sessions—this purpose question approach comes straight from that playbook.
2. Cold Call with Kindness
You don’t have to ambush learners to keep them involved. At the start of each session, I give a quick heads-up: “I’ll be calling on people during the session—don’t worry, I’ll set you up for success.”
Then I use warm callouts throughout the session. Here’s what that might sound like:
- “Let’s hear from someone in finance. Jordan, what’s your take?”
- “Jamie, I know you’ve had experience with this—what worked for you?”
The key is to use names thoughtfully, give learners a heads-up (“I’ll ask a few of you in a moment”), and respond with encouragement—not critique.
3. Use Emoji Check-Ins
Sometimes, you just need to take the temperature of the room. Emojis are a fast, fun way to do that without putting learners on the spot.
- “Drop a 💡 if something just clicked.”
- “Use 🎯 if this is a focus area for you this quarter.”
- “😬 if this topic’s been a pain point.”
I also love using emojis to signal when someone has finished a workbook reflection:
- “When you’re done journaling, drop an emoji in chat—your choice!”
And for fun self-identification moments (especially in DiSC trainings):
- “Drop an emoji if you’ve ever added something to your to-do list just so you could check it off.”
These little moments create connection, reinforce presence, and offer a low-risk way to participate.
4. Make Breakout Rooms Purposeful
Breakout rooms shouldn’t feel like a break—they should feel like action. The difference? Structure.
Assign roles like:
- Facilitator
- Notetaker
- Spokesperson
And give a clear time frame with specific outcomes. For example:
- “In 6 minutes, discuss the scenario and identify one best-practice response. Be ready to share.”
- “In 8 minutes, build a list of do’s and don’ts. Choose your top 3 and be prepared to post them in chat.”
When participants know exactly what’s expected—and how success is measured—they lean in.
5. Have a Strong Closing
Don’t let your session fizzle out. A strong closing reinforces learning, builds confidence, and wraps the experience with clarity and energy.
Here are a few creative ways to check for understanding and leave learners feeling empowered:
- One-Word Reflection: “Drop one word in the chat that describes how you’re feeling about today’s content.”
- Chatstorm Summary: “Type your biggest takeaway, but don’t hit send yet… 3, 2, 1—go!” (Then scroll through together.)
- Emoji Feedback: “How confident are you feeling about applying this content—💪, 🤔, or 😬?”
- Quick Quiz: Use a tool like Ah-ha Slides, Online Stopwatch, Jeopardy Labs, Kahoot, or even a Canva quiz slide to recap key points.
- Action Commitment: “What’s one thing you’ll do differently after today’s session?” Ask them to share it in chat, on a whiteboard, or on a Shared Google sheet or doc.
Strong closings give learners a moment to synthesize, reflect, and leave with purpose—not just another PDF. A bonus, the chat storm or action commitment enable you to follow up with them later if you have them include their name with their action item.
Keeping learners engaged in vILT doesn’t require fancy tools or exhausting theatrics. It takes intentional design, human connection, and consistent moments of interaction. Add these five strategies to your session, and watch your learners lean in—awake, alert, and ready to learn.
Want to skip the slide fatigue and get straight to interaction?
Download our Canva vILT Interactivity Slide Template Pack—50+ ready-to-use slides for activators, reflections, check-ins, breakout prompts, closing activities, and more. Designed with Facilitator Notes to help you use the right language to set up and close the activities and slides you can easily copy and paste directly into your next vILT session.