Twitter as a back channel

We're thinking about using twitter as a back channel option in the classroom. Has anyone already gone that route? Please share your experiences.

Tags: Twitter+backchannel

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Permalink Reply by Ian Carmichael on June 1, 2009 at 7:32pm

Thanks Nancy,
I doubt I'm a Luddite either (after all here I am indefatigably Web 2.0ed!) - but I do wonder about fashions of thought (disturbed since I read my first (unreferenced) article about 'digital natives', now 'multitasking')
On the other hand (isn't there always!) it's so easy to select appropriate readings for our own particular 'thought enclave'. A superb current exploration of this is in True Enough by Farhad Manjoo.

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Permalink Reply by Jill Reinhardt on June 3, 2009 at 6:18pm

I've learned a new word...luddite. I don't think any of us can afford to be luddites in this 21st c. I do agree that we need to pay attention to how our students learn and how we are teaching them.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on June 3, 2009 at 6:43pm

Jill, I'm not trying to be contrary--I agree with you--we need to pay attention to how we teach and how our students learn. My concerns is many teachers think kids are uber-tech savvy. I contend that many of the skills they have are low level skills--txting, uploading videos, downloading music etc. I don't think those skills need to be fostered in the classroom. I want my students to work with high level skills--analysis, synthesis, evaluation etc. If the Web 2.0 skills help kids do that then fine--but the tool is not the 'thing'.

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Permalink Reply by Tim on June 2, 2009 at 10:34pm

John Medina discusses this in Brain Matters. This book is a great resource for teachers. The author makes a point to explain how brain research applies to various aspects of schools and education. You can learn more here: http://www.brainrules.net/attention

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Permalink Reply by Tim on June 3, 2009 at 3:09am

Oops! The name of the book is actually Brain Rules. (Brain Matters is a different book which also deals with how brain research can be applied in classrooms.)

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Permalink Reply by Ian Carmichael on June 3, 2009 at 4:10am

Thanks Tim,
I've got a copy on the way!

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Permalink Reply by Jill Reinhardt on June 3, 2009 at 6:16pm

Thanks for sharing this book title.

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Permalink Reply by Heather Horton on May 31, 2009 at 9:09pm

I think this could be a very powerful tool if used appropriately and in the right context. It could be used as a version of "think-pair-share" with the added advantage of students being able to see all their classmates thoughts and reflections...not just their pair! The teacher could tell the students up front that they are going to go over new information for five minutes and then they are going to have time (maybe 3-5min) to reflect on that information by updating to twitter and then responding to others comments. It is also a great way for teachers to get inside the minds of their students and see what is really going on...how much of what I just covered do they really understand? I think it would be very eye opening as a teacher to be able to read back through my students comments and discussions after class to see what was really going on inside their heads! Could be a great "ticket out the door" activity at the end of class too!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Ediger on June 1, 2009 at 10:35pm

The Teach Paperless blog describes twitter as a front channel experience.

Here's an article from the Chronicle: Professor Encourages Students to Pass Notes During Class via Twitter

Here's another interesting article about bringing the backchannel forward: Bringing the Back Channel Forward

Finally, this great article by Melanie McBride provides some good background and references to other significant proponents of twittering in class: Classroom2.0: Twitter, del.icio.us and participatory learning

Hope this helps

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on June 2, 2009 at 6:14am

Article in new Time mag, twittering in church. Whatever.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Carmichael on June 2, 2009 at 6:32am

Thanks? Nancy.

(I'm modelling restraint. Whatever indeed.)

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on June 2, 2009 at 6:51am

Ian, I think we may be kindred-spirits. I'm concerned that the focus on the tool is taking the place of thinking, reflecting, learning, teaching, focusing, reflecting, and so on.