Communication Tools - Back Channel

Clear communication, keeping up, and remaining on track allows for a steady classroom work flow. Explore BackChannel resources and learn it's relevance to education. Imagine sitting in a lecture and being able to chat on your computer with the others also listening to the lecture; to have conversations developed around the speaker's topic. Back channeling provides the opportunity for a running conversation in which ideas and concepts can be explored with others in a quiet manner. Here, Howard Gardner talks about education and his theories on YouTube.

 

 

Implementation

BackChannel lets you network in real-time with others online. It is like chatting “behind the scenes.” Conversations, shared resources, and content delivered through an online back channel offers students a voice, individuality, and a digital footprint of the learning. Explore this site to discover great asynchronous and synchronous resources that will literally and digitally change your classroom.

Classroom Management

1. Create a learning environment supported by tools from http://www.todaysmeet.com.
2. Share the URL with your students.
3. Use the teacher computer and projection device to model this resource. Have student helpers open this URL on computers in the classroom or on any mobile device brought in their possession.
4. Talk to your students about codes of conduct, AUP - Authorized User Policy, and rules for using the back channel.
5. Describe the consequences of inappropriate use.