What if 400 students in a chemistry class could ask questions without ever having to raise their hand?  

By introducing CampusKnot, two graduate assistants transformed a quiet lecture class into an active and engaging environment where all students felt comfortable participating.

Building Engagement Into Every Class

Each week, the GAs used CampusKnot to:

• Create anonymous discussion posts for students to ask questions
• Launch polls tied to lecture content
• Generate additional questions using CampusKnot’s AI question creator
• Gather feedback on topics students needed help with

They also mixed in lighter prompts to encourage participation, including:

“Does your mood feel like a proton, neutron, or electron today?”

Small moments like these helped students feel more comfortable participating in a large lecture environment.

More Questions. Better Insights.

The biggest change was simple: students started speaking up.

Anonymous questions gave students a low pressure way to ask for clarification during class, helping the GAs:

• Identify confusing concepts in real time
• Adjust review sessions based on student needs
• Better understand where students were struggling before exams

Instead of guessing what students needed help with, the GAs had direct insight into what topics required more attention.

Creating a More Connected Classroom

As students saw their questions being answered, engagement continued to grow.

The GAs noticed:

• More students participating during lectures
• Increased comfort reaching out for help
• Better visibility into student understanding

For a large lecture course, CampusKnot helped transform student engagement from passive listening into an ongoing conversation.

Advice for Other Large Lecture Courses

The GAs’ biggest takeaway: engagement takes time.

Their advice for instructors:

• Start with anonymous questions to understand student needs
• Use polls strategically for attendance and review
• Be consistent and visible so students know their voices are being heard

The Result

With CampusKnot, the GAs were able to increase student participation, identify areas of confusion, and create more meaningful interactions in a 400+ student course.

Because in a large classroom, silence doesn’t always mean understanding.