Classroom Backchannels

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Description: Learn how to create and use online ‘backchannels’ in the classroom to facilitate student discussion, collaboration and reflection. A variety of backchannel websites will be used and explored including Etherpad and TodaysMeet. The use of Twitter hashtags for communication and collaboration will also be addressed.

Creative Commons License

These materials by Wesley A. Fryer are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Contact details for Wesley are available.

Playing with Media

Sample Presentation: 37 interesting ways to use Google Docs in the Classroom

Etherpad

What is Etherpad?

  1. See an example!
  2. Definition (English WikiPedia)
  3. Etherpad Foundation
  4. Etherpad on Google Code

Where can I use Etherpad?

  1. http://openetherpad.org
  2. http://piratepad.net
  3. http://typewith.me (Etherpad lite)
  4. http://titanpad.com

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR ETHERPAD!

TodaysMeet

  1. Can set expiration date
  2. Less public than Twitter

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR TODAY'S MEET

Chatzy

  1. Can be private
  2. More features cost $

Twitter

  1. Uses a unique hashtag
  2. Example for this conference: #nisdpalooza2012
  3. Can be better for conferences and events than for classes
  4. #EdChat is just one of many educational hashtag chats happening regularly on Twitter
  5. #edapp is 1 of my favs (educational iOS application tweets)

Other Resources

  1. Kicking it up a Notch: Back-channels in the Classroom (2008 K12Online presentation by Scott Snyder)