Backchannels

Backchannels Definitions
toc Backchannels are a way to promote the "talk behind the talk". Think of them as dicussion spaces and electronic ways to pass notes, amongst everyone! Some benefits of backchannels > giving a voice to everyone in the room, discovering questions to address, informal assessment, collaboration, real-time communication and community learning, and a simple way to share content, links and resources.

[|Educause] defines [|backchannel communication] as a "secondary electronic con­versation that takes place at the same time as a conference session, lecture, or instructor-led learning activity." In more general terms it is any conversation that takes place at the same time as a session, lecture or activity and it has been going on for a long time through passing notes, whispered conversations or even non-verbal communication. Technology has introduced ways to engage in a backchannel conversation electronically and is opening ways to make this more public and integrate it as part of the session, lecture or activity.

" With Twitter and other microblogging platforms, teachers from elementary schools to universities are setting up what is known as a “backchannel” in their classes. The real-time digital streams allow students to comment, pose questions (answered either by one another or the teacher) and shed inhibitions about voicing opinions. Perhaps most importantly, if they are texting on-task, they are less likely to be texting about something else." ~ from NYT Article: Speaking Up in Class, Silently

Educause PDF: 7 Things to Know About Backchannels

Examples & Resources
Pinterest Board: Backchanneling in Education 5 Tools for Backchannels in the Classroom Teacher's Blog: Twitter in the Classroom Blog: Power of the Backchannel Langwitches Blog: Backchanneling with Elementary students Backchannel wiki with resources Twitter as a conference backchannel Richard Byrne's list of backchannel sites Cybrary Man's list of backchannel links Simple K12 Backchannel project ideas The Mobile Learner: The Backchannel Effect Free Tech for Teachers discusses Primary Wall for young learners

Websites for Backchannel Tools/ Spaces
Twitter [|Shakespeak] Poll Everywhere socrative Padlet Linoit Primary Wall typewith.me todaysmeet [] [|http://typewith.me] Blank notepad! https://www.edmodo.com/ http://padlet.com/ https://plus.google.com/hangouts
 * Popular Twitter Hashtags via November Learning
 * Cybrary Man's Twitter Page

Todaysmeet Tutorial
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26 Ways to use VoiceThread in the Classroom

Using Padlet in the Classroom: as a Backchannel and More! (Tips also work for other sticky note sites i.e. Primary Wall Stixy & Linoit ) media type="custom" key="23332954"