Back-Channel+in+Google+Docs

=The Back-Channel in Google Docs=

What does your classroom look like when you show a video, give a presentation/lecture, or have students present projects? What percentage of students are fully engaged? What percentage are tuning out or struggling to stay tuned in? Using the back-channel tool can change this scenario. It is a tool that increases engagement, reveals divergent thinking, provides immediate informal assessment of understanding for the teacher, and deepens students' levels of knowledge construction.

From the front-lines: "In my attempt to avoid sitting through days and days of PowerPoint presentations in my high school computer classes (and boring the students in the process), I decided to upload each of my students Online Safety PowerPoint's to a Google account and the class joined the presentation. One student talked aloud while everyone listened and chatted about the presentation. The students asked questions in the chat, added their own information and followed along in the presentation. For the first time I can EVER remember as a teacher - 100% of the students were engaged in the presentation and participated in the chat. The students were enthusiastic and offered insightful and appropriate comments. The students liked being able to add their input without interrupting the presentation. I will definitely use Google shared presentations again." --- Name: Colette Cassinelli, Grades: 7-12 

=What Does It Look Like?=



=Practical Application Ideas...Give It A Go= __**Presentations & Lectures**__
 * Student or teacher presenters
 * Upload the presentation or notes to Google Docs and share it with the class.
 * Students open the shared presentation/doc and use the back-channel to ask.
 * Teacher - direct the class to contribute a specified number of comments.
 * Teacher - integrate guiding questions or reflection prompts
 * Teacher - make it clear that participation is mandatory ||= __**Enrich Cognition**__

Periodically during the presentation and/or at the end, use the back-channel thread to: __**Save and Share the Learning Artifact **__
 * Identify similar, salient patterns of thought.
 * Highlight common lines of understanding.
 * Emphasize divergent thinking.
 * Glean insight from multiple perspectives.
 * Clarify student questions.
 * Inform and guide your instruction. ||
 * Save the back-channel discussion -- copy the thread, paste it at the bottom of the Google doc/presentation, and save the whole artifact of learning.
 * Make sure doc is shared with all students.
 * Publish the link on ManageBac for students to refer to later.

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=Integration Tips from Lesson Learned=

Remember, the tool is not as important as the methodology. As the teacher, set up explicit parameters for the collaborative, student-directed use of the back-channel. For example:


 * "Chat" function tends to bring about informality. Remind students of academic purpose and general citizenship rules during participation.


 * Tell them the type of “talk” you expect them to use. Tell them if your are OK with using text/IM speak or if you want them to use proper grammar. Many teachers ask students to use proper grammar in the back-channel to emphasize the point that it’s an academic assignment as well as to develop language skills. Some teachers allow IM speak so students can let their ideas roll out more easily.


 * Remind them that their participation is not anonymous; their google docs username records what they do online...in other words...use the tool wisely to avoid trouble and be their best selves. As with any classroom misbehavior, if a student uses the tool inappropriately, use the incident as a teachable moment in classroom behavior and digital citizenship for the class.