Increasing student engagement through technology and accessibility

Today’s technology is doing more than streamlining administrative tasks in education — it’s reshaping how students interact with content, instructors and one another. From K-12 classrooms to college lecture halls, digital tools are transforming the educational experience by increasing student engagement, improving comprehension and creating more inclusive environments for diverse learners.

But what does student engagement actually mean, and how can technology and accessibility features be used strategically to improve it?

This article explores how modern education technologies and accessible learning strategies are working together to deepen engagement in the classroom, enhance learning outcomes and support all learners, including those with disabilities.

Defining student engagement in the modern classroom

Student engagement can vary depending on the context, but it generally refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest and passion students show when learning or being taught. It’s not just about participation — it’s about how students emotionally and cognitively invest in their education.

There are several dimensions of engagement that educators consider:

• Behavioral engagement involves participation in activities like discussions, assignments or group work.
• Emotional engagement relates to feelings of connection to peers, teachers or the subject matter.
• Cognitive engagement refers to the intellectual effort and strategies students use to comprehend and master material.

By understanding these components, educators can design more effective lessons and identify which engagement activities for students are most impactful.

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How technology drives engagement in learning

Technology offers a powerful toolkit for engagement in learning, helping educators deliver content in ways that feel interactive, personalized and relevant. Here’s how tech is making a difference in student engagement in the classroom:

Interactive tools that spark participation

Classroom tech like virtual labs, simulations, educational games and real-time polling tools allows students to become active participants rather than passive recipients. These tools make lessons more dynamic and offer students immediate ways to apply knowledge. Gamified learning platforms can turn quizzes and lessons into challenges or competitions, transforming routine material into compelling experiences that naturally encourage the engagement of students in learning.

Adaptive learning systems

Adaptive learning technology uses AI to adjust the pace and complexity of lessons based on student performance. By meeting learners where they are, these systems support cognitive engagement and allow students to progress at their own speed without the pressure of keeping up with the rest of the class. This personalization helps struggling students stay motivated and challenges advanced students with enriched content, both of which contribute to improving student engagement.

Real-time feedback and assessments

Online quizzes, formative assessments and interactive tests give students instant results. This immediate feedback loop reinforces correct answers and clarifies misunderstandings, helping students stay on track and build confidence in their abilities. When students can track their progress and see their growth over time, they’re more likely to stay invested in the learning process.

How accessibility features deepen engagement for all learners

While technology improves the experience for most students, it is transformative for those with disabilities or learning differences. By ensuring that classroom tech includes robust accessibility features, schools can boost classroom student engagement across the board.

Here are several key accessibility tools that promote inclusion and help increase student engagement:

Transcription for live lectures and study

Real-time transcription tools, powered by speech-to-text technology, can display spoken words instantly during lectures. This feature supports students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, those with auditory processing disorders and learners who may miss spoken content due to attention challenges. Verbit’s real-time transcription solutions, backed by advanced voice AI and human accuracy, make it easier for institutions to provide this vital support at scale.

Transcripts of recorded lectures also help students revisit complex ideas, verify notes and study more effectively. These tools are particularly beneficial for students with attention difficulties, learning disabilities or challenges with notetaking. Verbit enables educators to generate high-quality transcripts quickly and efficiently, making recorded content more accessible and useful for all learners.

Captions for videos and recorded lectures

Captions aren’t just for students with hearing loss. Studies show that all learners benefit from captions, particularly in maintaining focus and retaining information. Captions reinforce key terms and concepts and provide a dual channel for absorbing content both visual and auditory. When captions are consistently used, they help foster equity in engagement in the classroom by ensuring no student misses essential instruction.

Verbit works closely with institutions to provide high-accuracy captions for live and pre-recorded content, whether it be live lectures held online or in-person or videos and content embedded within a school’s learning management system. We also caption key events like graduation ceremonies, sports games and education conferences.

Screen readers and assistive technology

For students with visual impairments or specific learning disabilities, screen readers and other assistive devices convert text, charts and navigation into audio or braille output. When combined with accessible digital materials and compatible classroom tools, these technologies ensure students can fully participate and stay connected to the lesson. Verbit’s transcription and captioning files are compatible with assistive technologies, helping ensure that no student is left behind in digital-first learning environments.

Supporting Universal Design for Learning with technology

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that emphasizes flexible learning environments that accommodate individual learning differences. It aligns closely with the goal of increasing student engagement through inclusive strategies and multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement.

Technology plays a key role in operationalizing UDL in the classroom. Features like customizable text displays, multiple submission options for assignments (video, text, voice) and varied content formats empower all students to engage with material in the way that suits them best.

By building in accessibility from the start, educators can proactively address potential learning barriers and promote equity in student engagement in higher education and beyond.

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Making tech work: Feedback, audits and continuous improvement

While introducing new technologies is important, ensuring they are effective for student engagement requires ongoing evaluation and iteration. Schools and institutions should:

Conduct accessibility audits. Regular audits of digital learning environments help ensure that tools and materials meet established standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These reviews help identify barriers before they affect student outcomes.

Assess engagement strategies. Use tools like learning analytics, attendance data and course feedback to assess which technologies and practices are genuinely improving engagement in the classroom. Monitoring these metrics allows educators to make data-informed decisions about what to refine or expand.

Gather student feedback. Students are the ultimate judges of what works. Institutions should survey students about their experiences, ask them about preferred tools or challenges and include them in the development of future tech-driven strategies. This collaborative approach leads to better buy-in and more authentic student engagement in higher education.

Seen, supported and empowered

Technology, when implemented thoughtfully and inclusively, can be a powerful catalyst for improving student engagement. By leveraging adaptive tools, real-time feedback and accessible features like transcription and captions, educators can meet students where they are and create vibrant, dynamic learning environments.

Just as importantly, accessibility features ensure that all students — regardless of ability — can participate fully and meaningfully. From promoting cognitive engagement to improving access for those with disabilities, accessible technology plays a vital role in making learning more equitable.

Verbit helps educational institutions deliver on this promise by providing high-quality transcription, captioning and translation services and solutions.

As educational institutions continue to embrace innovation, prioritizing both engagement in learning and accessibility is key. When these priorities align, the result is a classroom where every student feels seen, supported and empowered to succeed.