For the past three years, I’ve used Perusall in several of my high school and dual enrollment courses to shift how students interact with reading assignments. Instead of reading a textbook or article in isolation, Perusall turns reading into a collaborative and engaging activity. Students can annotate texts, ask questions, and respond to each other in real time or asynchronously.
This changes the rhythm of reading. What was once passive becomes active. Students highlight key ideas, tag comments, and clarify confusion together. It helps build reading comprehension and annotation habits they can apply in other courses. More importantly, it turns reading into a shared learning experience.
While onboarding new students can sometimes be a small hurdle, especially at the start of the term, once they’re in, the tool works smoothly. I’ve seen students answer each other’s questions faster than I could in person, and I’ve watched class discussions improve because students show up better prepared.
I recommend Perusall for anyone teaching secondary or post-secondary courses where you want students to dig into texts, connect ideas, and learn from each other—not just the teacher.