Comments on: Backchannel in the Middle School http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:30:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Clint http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-252 Clint Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:37:20 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-252 <a href="#comment-247" rel="nofollow">@Anne Mirtschin </a> What a fantastic idea! Many times in international schools that offer the IB Diploma, the Standard Level and Higher Level classes are combined into a single section. Normally this can cause logistical problems for the teacher, but your use of the backchannel can actually turn that into a positive: two classes running simultaneously, students supporting each other in a controlled environment, both classes supporting one another when appropriate. @Anne Mirtschin
What a fantastic idea! Many times in international schools that offer the IB Diploma, the Standard Level and Higher Level classes are combined into a single section. Normally this can cause logistical problems for the teacher, but your use of the backchannel can actually turn that into a positive: two classes running simultaneously, students supporting each other in a controlled environment, both classes supporting one another when appropriate.

]]> By: Anne Mirtschin http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-247 Anne Mirtschin Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:10:39 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-247 I have also used the backchannel in classes. Unfortunately I have had to teach two levels of accounting at once - year 11 and year 12. In order to take the pressure off me as a teacher, I set up a back channel using chatzy. After the intitial ideas of IM and txting, students settled down and helped each other when I worked with someone else. I also had to be away from my class one day, moderating an online session in elluminate. Despite have a casual replacement teacher who knew nothing of the topic, I opened up a backchannel, students from my class signed in and were able to ask me questions virtually to clarify tasks and outcomes and I responded when I could I have also used the backchannel in classes. Unfortunately I have had to teach two levels of accounting at once – year 11 and year 12. In order to take the pressure off me as a teacher, I set up a back channel using chatzy. After the intitial ideas of IM and txting, students settled down and helped each other when I worked with someone else.
I also had to be away from my class one day, moderating an online session in elluminate. Despite have a casual replacement teacher who knew nothing of the topic, I opened up a backchannel, students from my class signed in and were able to ask me questions virtually to clarify tasks and outcomes and I responded when I could

]]> By: Clint http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-239 Clint Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:44:45 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-239 <a href="#comment-233" rel="nofollow">@allison </a> When you do give it a go, I think we'd all love to hear how it goes. As this is relatively new in the classroom, every bit of anecdotal evidence is helpful. We just gave a series of short workshops (25 minutes) to help us prepare for the possibility of school closure due to H1N1. We decided to highlight the fact that these tools can be used any time and not just if the Swine Flu gets us. One of the workshops was given by Andrea on using chatrooms and I hope to see an explosion of use at school. As this becomes more prevalent, I'm sure there will be a variety of new ways to implement chat and backchannels in the class. (BTW, if you haven't done so already, be sure to read <a href="http://www.thethinkingstick.com/earcos-admin-tech-cohort-reflection" rel="nofollow">Jeff Utecht's experience</a> with backchannels at the Earcos Admin Conference. Enlightening.) @allison
When you do give it a go, I think we’d all love to hear how it goes. As this is relatively new in the classroom, every bit of anecdotal evidence is helpful.

We just gave a series of short workshops (25 minutes) to help us prepare for the possibility of school closure due to H1N1. We decided to highlight the fact that these tools can be used any time and not just if the Swine Flu gets us. One of the workshops was given by Andrea on using chatrooms and I hope to see an explosion of use at school. As this becomes more prevalent, I’m sure there will be a variety of new ways to implement chat and backchannels in the class. (BTW, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to read Jeff Utecht’s experience with backchannels at the Earcos Admin Conference. Enlightening.)

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-234 uberVU - social comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:48:13 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-234 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by chamada: One middle school science teacher @ r school has had great experiences with IM for backchannel in class. http://tinyurl.com/ya3nlwq #IMinEDU... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by chamada: One middle school science teacher @ r school has had great experiences with IM for backchannel in class. http://tinyurl.com/ya3nlwq #IMinEDU…

]]> By: allison http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-233 allison Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:55 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-233 Hi, I think this is an excellent idea. I have used Edmodo for group work before (and also to keep an eye on my students when off sick once, apparently the cover teacher was very confused when the kids announced that "Miss is here!"). I hadn't thought to use that type of approach. Sometimes time pressure means that I also give lecture style lessons and I had never thought to engage the students this way. Will certainly give it a go. Hi, I think this is an excellent idea. I have used Edmodo for group work before (and also to keep an eye on my students when off sick once, apparently the cover teacher was very confused when the kids announced that “Miss is here!”). I hadn’t thought to use that type of approach. Sometimes time pressure means that I also give lecture style lessons and I had never thought to engage the students this way. Will certainly give it a go.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Learning On The Job » Backchannel in the Middle School -- Topsy.com http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-232 Tweets that mention Learning On The Job » Backchannel in the Middle School -- Topsy.com Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:29:16 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-232 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by tombarrett, Clint Hamada. Clint Hamada said: One middle school science teacher @ r school has had great experiences with IM for backchannel in class. http://tinyurl.com/ya3nlwq #IMinEDU [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by tombarrett, Clint Hamada. Clint Hamada said: One middle school science teacher @ r school has had great experiences with IM for backchannel in class. http://tinyurl.com/ya3nlwq #IMinEDU [...]

]]> By: Clint http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-104 Clint Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:20:19 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-104 <b>@Katy</b> I have never used Edmodo (I've never even looked at it, to be honest!) but will definitely do so based on your recommendation here. I'm a big fan of that "play time" you mentioned. It allows students to get the silly things out of the way (for us it was favorite football/soccer teams!) and focus on the task at hand. I also like the idea of pre-loading some questions for the students to give the discussion some shape. After a while, once everybody got comfortable, it seems like you didn't even need those! I'm looking forward to using backchannels in other classes as well: TOK and IB History are next on my list! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes... @Katy I have never used Edmodo (I’ve never even looked at it, to be honest!) but will definitely do so based on your recommendation here.

I’m a big fan of that “play time” you mentioned. It allows students to get the silly things out of the way (for us it was favorite football/soccer teams!) and focus on the task at hand. I also like the idea of pre-loading some questions for the students to give the discussion some shape. After a while, once everybody got comfortable, it seems like you didn’t even need those!

I’m looking forward to using backchannels in other classes as well: TOK and IB History are next on my list! I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes…

]]> By: KatyKauffman http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-103 KatyKauffman Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:39:33 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-103 I use www.Edmodo.com as a backdoor channel in my classroom. It's a cross between Facebook and Twitter, but it's a closed environment and designed for the educational environment. In my class, I showed a movie of Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR and posted a few guiding questions. Students had computers up and running, and after an initial "play time," they began to really have some intellectual discussions. Eventually, I just sat in stunned silence as I watched my students take over the entire direction and flow with questions like "Do you think politicians are like this today?" and "Did Brutus ever fully regret his decision to kill Caesar/" The responses were myriad, varied, and quite enlightening. In 24 years of teaching, I've never witnessed the type of the classroom discussion that took place over the few days of movie viewing. And most importantly, every single person contributed and did so quite frequently. I'm sold on the backdoor channel philosophy, and I'm looking forward to reading how other teachers are implementing in their classrooms. Thanks for the blog on this topic! I use http://www.Edmodo.com as a backdoor channel in my classroom. It’s a cross between Facebook and Twitter, but it’s a closed environment and designed for the educational environment. In my class, I showed a movie of Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR and posted a few guiding questions. Students had computers up and running, and after an initial “play time,” they began to really have some intellectual discussions. Eventually, I just sat in stunned silence as I watched my students take over the entire direction and flow with questions like “Do you think politicians are like this today?” and “Did Brutus ever fully regret his decision to kill Caesar/” The responses were myriad, varied, and quite enlightening. In 24 years of teaching, I’ve never witnessed the type of the classroom discussion that took place over the few days of movie viewing. And most importantly, every single person contributed and did so quite frequently. I’m sold on the backdoor channel philosophy, and I’m looking forward to reading how other teachers are implementing in their classrooms. Thanks for the blog on this topic!

]]> By: Langwitches Blog » links for 2009-09-21 http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-100 Langwitches Blog » links for 2009-09-21 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:09:29 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-100 [...] Learning On The Job » Backchannel in the Middle School Last week our Science Head of Department was ‘lecturing’ to her Grade 8 class, reviewing the different parts of plants. In addition to providing a cloze-type graphic organizer, Andrea decided to open up a backchannel using Today’s Meet for the students (tags: chat_classroom) [...] [...] Learning On The Job » Backchannel in the Middle School Last week our Science Head of Department was ‘lecturing’ to her Grade 8 class, reviewing the different parts of plants. In addition to providing a cloze-type graphic organizer, Andrea decided to open up a backchannel using Today’s Meet for the students (tags: chat_classroom) [...]

]]> By: Tweets that mention Learning On The Job » Backchannel in the Middle School -- Topsy.com http://blog.misterhamada.com/2009/09/backchannel-in-the-middle-school/#comment-99 Tweets that mention Learning On The Job » Backchannel in the Middle School -- Topsy.com Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:54:57 +0000 http://blog.misterhamada.com/?p=110#comment-99 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by : finalsite and Clint Hamada. Clint Hamada said: New blog post: Backchannel in the Middle School http://bit.ly/jdXCL [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by : finalsite and Clint Hamada. Clint Hamada said: New blog post: Backchannel in the Middle School http://bit.ly/jdXCL [...]

]]>