Today's Meet - BackChannel
Today's Meet is an instant, free tool. With no user accounts to set-up, it provides an immediate opportunity for individuals to post their thoughts, questions, and ideas in the room for quick conversations.
Similar to Twitter, but limited to the students in your room that you share through a web link, students are limited to 140 characters in their responses. Students can participate from any device with an internet connection.
The main purpose of backchannel chatting is to maintain a real-time conversation along side a live spoken conversation. This type of micro-blogging is extremely popular as a social networking option but chats are also frequently used to connect participants in webinars, conferences, lectures, and even watching television!
Students can participate in these types of chats to practice multi-tasking as they will be listening, reading, and writing their responses as they process the content being delivered. It can connect the students in the classroom but can also connect students in different classrooms watching similar presentations.
Similar to Twitter, but limited to the students in your room that you share through a web link, students are limited to 140 characters in their responses. Students can participate from any device with an internet connection.
The main purpose of backchannel chatting is to maintain a real-time conversation along side a live spoken conversation. This type of micro-blogging is extremely popular as a social networking option but chats are also frequently used to connect participants in webinars, conferences, lectures, and even watching television!
Students can participate in these types of chats to practice multi-tasking as they will be listening, reading, and writing their responses as they process the content being delivered. It can connect the students in the classroom but can also connect students in different classrooms watching similar presentations.
How ToLearn It In 5 - Backchanneling with Todays Meet
NOTE: The Twitter hashtag feature on Todays Meet is no longer an option. |
Resources to SupportPresidential Debates Discussion
A sample activity using Backchannel. Top 10 Reasons to Use BackChannel Chatting Reasons for using BackChannel in a classroom |
Additional Considerations
- Give students time to "chat" and get their giggles out before you use the room for legitimate chatting. Practice and play first.
- Use the @username convention to indicate a direct reply to a chat in the room
- Set clear expectations as to what is expected during the chat. Allow for times to "stop" the chat and focus the students. All posts are tagged with the user and a time stamp so posts can be tracked.
- Print the backchannel chat and discuss with the students to debrief the activity.
- Use these tools for reflecting on video, summarizing lectures or direct presentations, connect to other classrooms,
Sample Outcomes
Click below to find a list of possible indicators and outcomes that would fit well with this type of inquiry activity.
Submit an example of your BackChannel Projects
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