Classroom+Backchannel

Backchannel communication is a secondary electronic conversation that takes place at the same time as a conference session, lecture, or instructor-led learning activity.

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What is it?

 * a secondary electronic conversation happening alongside a presentation/lecture (synchronous/real-time)
 * a chance to check for understanding
 * a way for students to ask questions they would not otherwise vocalize (anonymous) - Involve quieter students
 * a way to amplify what others are saying (students can support each others' questions)
 * a convenient way to do Q&A
 * a way to share resources
 * a way to see how students may be engaged--a way to make students' thinking more "visible" even if they’re not looking at you
 * Provides a record of the dialogue for future reference

How it Works
With online collaboration tools such as: Twitter, TodaysMeet, GoogleModerator, Chatzy, Edmodo, Wallwisher

Ways to Use Backchanneling

 * Lecture - collaboration, reflection, clarification
 * Video feedback - Set up a room during a movie - students record their reactions to what they see while at the same time you are able to answer questions that arise as they watch (no need to start/stop movie) **OR** post a question(s) about a movie for students to contemplate while watching
 * student presentations - commenting
 * scribes/recorders/reporters - Use a student as a co-moderator of the backchannel; use student as a [[file:google jockey.pdf]](link sharing)
 * check for understanding
 * design interactive lessons that utilize the backchannel amplification tools (voting, clicker)
 * flipping your classroom? Content > Reflection > Question
 * Get feedback on a class or topic

**Today’s Meet**
is a great tool to use in any subject to engage and encourage students to share their content ideas and thoughts.
 * Use Today's Meet as a Parking Lot. Students post questions or comments from an assignment and other students respond or comment. To encourage students to participate in responding to their classmates, reward extra points.
 * Use as an assessment tool. Provide students with a question, vocabulary word, or a topic and have students respond to it. To keep student’s identity confidential, provide students with a number to use as their name.
 * Use as an exit slip for students to share what they learned in class for the day or what they may be need more help with (check for understanding). The opportunity to print the transcript, allows you to provide students with a copy to use a review or for absent students.


 * For Today's workshop:** @http://todaysmeet.com/MrsA

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 * Backchanneling with TodaysMeet**

Examples in the Classroom
Use Today's Meet to develop deeper student understanding

Today's Meet in the 1:1 environment media type="custom" key="24484338"

Google Moderator
http://goo.gl/mod/JRxs

Use as discussion starter in class Use to promote higher order thinking Use as a backchannel

Click here to add your ideas: http://bit.ly/SQe5zO Click here for more ideas: http://goo.gl/mod/Mbwc

Backchannel Rubric
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