Trainer-Led Materials That Help Facilitate Discussion

I second this, HunterBlake​!

ElaineCashmore-​ I also wonder if you've explored other ways to involve the participants that seem more "in control" for the facilitator. I love incorporating Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures in those instances (even for adults!), though I know they look a little different online than they would in person. Utilizing activities that have fewer answer options or that can be more targeted, but still get people thinking and talking. Here are some examples of what I mean:

• Maybe instead of asking a question, you try a "find the fib" activity. Flip cards work great for this in Rise. After covering a topic, you display three statements about what you just covered. Two are true, one is false. The participants' goal to identify which one is false. They can talk it over together and need to tell you (or whoever is controlling the course navigation) which one to flip over. You can even take it a step further by having them correct it.
• Embed a Padlet board, Canva Whiteboard, or something similar into the Rise course and share the link to it so everyone can respond to a prompt or question at the same time. The facilitator can see them answering live, and while everyone is typing, they can pick out which ones they want to highlight or clarify.
• Use "fix the mistake" or "what's missing" type of exercises for participants to solve. The facilitator should be familiar with the content of the exercises and be able to guide them to anything they missed or ask follow up questions, but it would be the participants doing more of the problem solving. Yes, this would require the facilitator to still be able to question the participants and facilitate the discussion, but that's the point!

I also want to introduce you to Chad Littlefield's free YouTube videos if you haven't seen them yet. He has playlists specifically for virtual engagement. Chad's company We and Me focuses on connection and engagement, and he's great about explaining the concepts in simple ways as well as showing or talking through examples of what they might look like.