Lightspeed Systems

Backchanneling the Safe Way

The use of “backchanneling” seems to be on the rise. This engagement and assessment technique occurs when technology is used to allow class participants to ask questions and/or make comments during a discussion.

The video below shares how these techniques might be used. However, it also illustrates one of the primary challenges in deploying these new techniques – the apparent requirement for free, unsecure tools. In the case of this video, the primary method advocated for backchanneling is using Twitter accounts. Of course, the teacher has to assist students in getting accounts, account content is public, non-educational streams can be viewed, etc. Some more secure alternatives are offered – but they do require substantial teacher management.

Enter My Big Campus. Our group discussions include a group chat feature so students (or peers in a professional learning setting) can ask questions, comment, elaborate on topics–all without any set-up. Just access the My Big Campus discussion group using any browser, log in with your network credentials, and – bam! – backchannel away. Of course, since students access site using network credentials, roles are defined by school, activity is logged,and external audiences can only participate if invited. Which means backchanneling can occur in a safe environment.

All the power of the free tools, much less administrative headache, and baked in security.

You can learn more about backchanneling and techniques by joining our Backchannel PLN on My Big Campus.

If you have an account, just log into www.MyBigCampus.com, find “topics” tab to left, and join the discussion with your peers.

If you do not have an account, go to www.MyBigCampus.com and create an account. As soon as your educational credentials are verified, your account will be activated. Then just log in and join the topic group.

Also, if you have a new topic you would like to share and discuss we encourage you to create a group and invite your colleagues. It’s quick, easy, and a great way to develop a strong PLN!

Tags: backchanneling, Twitter

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at 11:03 am and is filed under 21st century learning, Collaborative learning, Internet safety, My Big Campus, Video, Web 2.0. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.