Backchannels are text-only, web based conversations that can supplement face-to-face discussion in the classroom. Maybe you’ve had the experience of attending a presentation where there were many participants with lots of questions, making it almost impossible for the presenter to address them all and still cover the material. Backchannels can alleviate this problem by creating an online space where participants can ask questions while the presenter is talking. Other participants can type their answers or opinions without disrupting the overall flow of the class.
Backchannels require a certain level of comfort with multi-tasking, because you are reading, writing, and listening all at the same time. While some teachers might view this as distracting, most students prefer this multi-modal approach to new content and there is research to support that such practices increase retention.
Teachers in elementary, secondary, post-secondary, and graduate classrooms are beginning to use backchannels as a central feature of their classrooms. Students are using tools like twitter, chatterous, and EtherPad to take notes on important points made in class. This accompanying text makes it easier for students to study later and to document their questions in a place where they won’t be forgotten. More importantly, text-only contributions to class discussions open up an alternative way for less-vocal students to express their opinions.
Be sure to maintain the privacy of your students by using classroom nicknames for public, online discussions. See our Web Posting Checklist for more information.
Posted on May 1st, 2009 by Allison Weiss
Filed under: Instructional links