As technology sneaks its way into more and more classrooms, teachers find themselves looking for different ways to encourage students to engage with the class. One of the lesser appreciated ways is through creating backchannels. A backchannel is any alternative to the main conversation that is happening in the class.
My first experience with a backchannel was in my Master’s program, though I didn’t realize it at the time. I decided to pursue my Master’s online, and my school ran everything through Adobe Connect in a synchronous platform. Adobe Connect allows for a chat room option, so during classroom presentations we were constantly making comments and adding to the conversation without interrupting the pacing of our classes. It was a truly outstanding experience.
Tags: android • assessment • backchannel • Chat • Classroom • edtech • education • engagement • How-to • iOS • iPad • iphone • Paperless • Students • Todays Meet • tutorials • Video Tutorials