Back Channeling
Grades 4-12
BIG IDEA
How you can use the Back Channel Strategy in YOUR classroom:
-SOCRATIC SEMINAR: During a Socratic Seminar, an inner circle of students participates in the discussion; the outer circle of students participates on an online discussion, responding to the comments being made by inner circle participants.
- MOVIES OR VIDEOS: Students can respond to educational videos/movies in real time AND/OR can ask questions about the content that can be addressed later by the teacher.
- LECTURE/INSTRUCTIONAL CLARIFICATION: Students can ask questions of the teacher during instruction without having to raise their hands
-SMALL GROUP WORK: The teacher can converse with small groups in real time as they work on group projects, giving instant feedback.
Directions to Set Up a Back Channeling Discussion Board on COLE during a Socratic Seminar
How to Set Up Back Channeling Discussion Board during a Socratic Seminar on COLE
1) Go to your Teacher Schoology/COLE Resource page.
2) Select "Add Resources" right under your "Home" icon.
3) In the Drop Down Menu, select "Add Discussion".
4) Give your Back Channeling Discussion a title. Then add directions in the "Description" section. I have included a sample of my Directions here. Feel Free to use or modify my directions!
Sample Directions for a Discussion Board:
"While your classmates are actively participating in the Socratic Seminar, you will be responding via an online discussion about what you are hearing. You may respond to something that one of the seminar participants said OR you may respond to something that a classmate wrote on this discussion board. Please make sure to identify who and what you are responding to. Also be specific in your comments, not just "I liked what so and so said." You must make at least 3 comments, but can make more.
Remember we are using the following acronym for this seminar to help you think of what to write :
S - something shocking or surprising
L - something you learned
I -something that inspired you
P- something you are still perplexed about (questions you still have)"
5) You can add a rubric, if you like. Then select "Submit".
6) After the Discussion appears on your Resources Home Page, go to the Settings icon to the far right. In the Drop Down menu, select "Add to Course" and add the discussion board to the appropriate classes.
7) During class, identify which students who will be participating in the Socratic Seminar first and which students will be Back Channeling.
8) Students who are Back Channeling first will log into their COLE account on their device, and will then find the Discussion Board link. (This icon looks like speech bubbles.) When students click on the link, they will then be able to type their comments in the text box.
When they hit "Submit", their comments will be added to the discussion group.
9) Students need to periodically refresh their page, in order to see the most recent comments that have been added.
10) Halfway through the class, students will switch roles. Those who have been Back Channeling will now become the Socratic Seminar participants, and those who have been Seminar participants will now take part in the online discussion.
11) Model the steps for participation the first time you use Back Channeling.