Backchannel Chatting

Backchannel Chat is an online tool that allows for an educational discussion between the teacher and students. It is a way to engage students and get everyone to participate.

Here are some instructions to get started:

The teacher and student should create an account. The teacher has full control over the chat room, they can remove unwanted comments and set the chat room pace and in line with the lesson plan. Just simply give your students a code to get them started. This is an instant way to start a conversation with your class.

The teacher should create a discussion for the student that provokes classroom discussion. Backchannel Chat allows you to embed YouTube videos, Flickr photos, Tweets or set up a quick poll.

Backchannel Chat can work with Google apps. So picture it, a student can follow along with your presentation on Google Slides and be able to chat with you while you teach. This is a way to get students to be engaged in a new way. This might be especially helpful for the student in your class that is hesitant to ask questions or answer a question that you might pose during your lecture. This is an interactive way to allow students to learn a new topic while using their smartphone or tablet!