{"id":332,"date":"2023-08-29T11:49:27","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T18:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/?p=332"},"modified":"2023-08-29T11:49:27","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T18:49:27","slug":"digital-backchannels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/2023\/08\/29\/digital-backchannels\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Backchannels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What is it?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A backchannel<\/em> exists in contrast to a frontchannel<\/em>. The frontchannel is discussion managed by an instructor, while a backchannel comprises the unmanaged notes and whispers students may use in class. Digital backchannels are a compromise between these two modalities. They are supervised by the instructor, but may run in parallel with a spoken, guided class discussion. (Carpenter, 2015). You are likely familiar with one already: the chat channel in a synchronous online class can sometimes fulfill a similar role. Backchannels tend to be popular at academic conferences: for example, conference attendees tag their posts with a specific hashtag to share their observations and reflections during a talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While digital backchannels are native to many online classroom platforms (including BigBlueButton and Zoom), implementing them in an in-person class is more challenging.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What are the benefits?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Digital backchannels allow instructors to hear from students who may be shy about speaking up in class. They allow anonymous participation, increasing the feeling of safety for many learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some platforms allow students to vote or like posts. Voting helps ensure that a plurality of students drives discussion, rather than the one who is most willing to speak up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What are the challenges?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Unlike the online class chat interface, students need to intentionally access the backchannel on their device in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of a digital backchannel can be distracting and divert the attention of both the instructor and the students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One possible solution to these challenges is to set clear guidelines for when students have access to the backchannel. A Padlet, for example, can be set to “read only”, preventing further posts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Who’s using this?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Pending\u2026 if you\u2019ve used this technique and you\u2019re willing to share thoughts about your and your students\u2019 experience, send me an email<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Resources<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A Padlet<\/a> using the Stream layout works most similarly to the chat in an online classroom. (An example of a Stream backchannel<\/a> is provided here).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instructors could link to or embed such a Padlet in their Moodle site.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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References<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Carpenter, J. P. (2015). Digital backchannels: Giving every student a voice. Educational Leadership, 72<\/em>(8), 54. KPU library link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Howell, S. L., Johnson, M. C., & Hansen, J. C. (2023). The innovative use of technological tools (the ABCs and Ps) to help adult learners decrease transactional distance and increase learning presence. Adult Learning (Washington, D.C.), <\/em>, 104515952211497. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/10451595221149768<\/a>. KPU library link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pohl, A., Gehlen-Baum, V., & Bry, F. (2012). Enhancing the Digital Backchannel Backstage on the Basis of a Formative User Study. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (Online), 7<\/em>(1), 33-41. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3991\/ijet.v7i1.1898<\/a>. KPU library link<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is it? A backchannel exists in contrast to a frontchannel. The frontchannel is discussion managed by an instructor, while a backchannel comprises the unmanaged notes and whispers students may use in class. Digital backchannels are a compromise between these two modalities. They are supervised by the instructor, but may run in parallel with a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1527,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[7,27,15],"class_list":["post-332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-learning-activities","tag-deliveryin-person","tag-edtechpadlet","tag-level1100-2999"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1527"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=332"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":522,"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332\/revisions\/522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.wordpress.kpu.ca\/fshnotebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}