This document discusses using social media and backchannels in the classroom. It defines social media as web-based platforms that are available to everyone, editable, and enable discussion. It introduces the concepts of frontchannels (formal class discussions) and backchannels (informal discussions using tools like Twitter). It then explains how backchannels can be used to engage students, deepen learning, encourage collaboration, and build community by allowing interaction, feedback, and extended discussion outside of class. Finally, it demonstrates how to use Hotseat, a backchannel tool, and provides tips for managing backchannels in the classroom.

1. Social Media & the Backchannel:
Bringing Twitter and Hotseat to Class
EDCI 575 Fall 2010EDCI 575 Fall 2010
Stephanie KrajicekStephanie Krajicek

2. By the end of this presentation,
you should be able to:
1. Define and give examples of social
media.
2. Define these terms: backchannel,
snarky, netiquette, tweet, post, follow,
hashtag.
3. Explain the purpose of Twitter and
Hotseat.

3. 4. Successfully log in and follow
discussions in Hotseat.
5. Find a backchannel for a specific
event using Twitter (and Hotseat).
6. Participate in a backchannel
discussion.
7. List at least three ways backchannels
can be used to engage students,
deepen content learning, support
students, encourage collaboration
and create community.

4. Social media is:
Available to everyone
Web-based
Editable
Enables discussion

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6. So What?
Shift in paradigm

7. Publishing
• Lulu (https://www.lulu.com)
• SpoonFlower (http://www.spoonflower.com/)
• Moo (http://us.moo.com/)
• Ponoko (http://www.ponoko.com/)

8. #savechuck
http://mashable.com/2009/05/04/nbc-save-chuck/
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9. Dooce vs. Maytag
http://www.dooce.com/2009/08/28/containing-capital-letter-or-two
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10. What’s a backchannel?
Frontchannel vs. backchannel
sanctioned content and dialog
vs.
whispered conversations, note passing,
Twitter comments, blog posts, chat
room discussions

11. Instructor Learners
Front channel Backchannel

12. LearnersInstructor

13. LearnersInstructor

14. Instructor Learners

15. Instructor Learners

16. What Can Backchannels Bring
to the Table?
• Student engagement
• Community building
• Collaboration
• Feedback and interaction
• Learning Support
• Deeper learning

17. QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
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18. Common #hashtags for
Educators
#edchat
#edshare
#teachertuesday
#followfriday
#ff
#comment4kids
#lrnchat

19. Hotseat
“Hotseat, a social networking-powered
mobile Web application, creates a
collaborative classroom, allowing students to
provide near real-time feedback during class
and enabling professors to adjust the course
content and improve the learning experience.
Students can post messages to Hotseat using
their Facebook or Twitter accounts, sending
text messages, or logging in to the Hotseat
Web site.”

20. Hands on HotseatHands on Hotseat
• Log in using yourLog in using your
career accountcareer account
username andusername and
passwordpassword
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21. Most discussed
Popular postsRecent posts
Discussion question

22. Favorite
Lock
Change
view
Twitter hash tag
Interact via SMS
Interact via Facebook

23. Discussion
How can backchannels be used to:
engage?
deepen content learning?
support learning?
encourage collaboration?
create community?

24. Pros & Cons
• Interaction with
content, peers,
experts
• Split attention
• Extended classroom • Uncertainty about
audience
• Dialogue about
insights, opinions
• Opportunities to
hijack class
• Ability to ask
questions / clarify
understanding

25. • Ability to enhance
conversation through
comments
• Dissemination of
incorrect information
• Make connections • Mob mentality
• Revisit ideas from a
new perspective
• Domination of
discussion by a few
• Give voice to the wall
flowers
• Lack of netiquette
Pros & Cons

26. Other Tools for Creating
Backchannels
• Yammer (https://www.yammer.com/)
• Status.net
• Poll Everywhere (
www.polleverywhere.com/)
• Chatzy (http://www.chatzy.com/)
• Today’s Meet (http://todaysmeet.com/)
• Google docs
• Zoho docs

27. Tips for Managing the Backchannel
• Define the role of social media in
your classroom
• Give students specific tasks
• Allow students to participate in the
manner that they choose

28. • Set clear expectations and
consequences for failure to meet them
for behavior, grades, and frequency of
posts
• Use the technology that you have
available
Tips for Managing the Backchannel

29. Can you...
• Define and give examples ofDefine and give examples of
social media?social media?
• Define: backchannel, snarky,Define: backchannel, snarky,
netiquette, tweet, post,netiquette, tweet, post,
follow, hashtag?follow, hashtag?
• Explain the purpose ofExplain the purpose of
Hotseat?Hotseat?
• Log in and follow discussionsLog in and follow discussions
in Hotseat?in Hotseat?
• Find a backchannel for aFind a backchannel for a
specific event in Twitter andspecific event in Twitter and
Hotseat?Hotseat?
• Participate in a backchannelParticipate in a backchannel
discussion?discussion?
• List three ways backchannelsList three ways backchannels
engage students, deepenengage students, deepen
content learning, encouragecontent learning, encourage
collaboration, supportcollaboration, support
learning, and / or createlearning, and / or create
community.community.

30. Go to Poll Daddy to take the assessment:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HN8ZWLD

31. Sources
Atkinson, C. (2010). The backchannel: How audiences are using Twitter and social media and changing
presentations forever. Berkley, CA: New Riders.
Matchett, N.J. & Main, C. (2010). Faculty collaboration at a distance: Using online peer review to
improve course design. Educause Quarterly 33(3). Retrieved from
http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/FacultyColl
aborationataDistanc/213782
McCarthy, J. (2009, December 4). The dark side of digital backchannels in shared physical spaces
[Web log post]. Retrieved from http://gumption.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/the-dark-side-of-digital-
backchannels-in-shared-physical-spaces.html (2010, September 29).
McCarthy, J. & boyd, d. m. (2005). Digital backchannels in shared spaces: Experiences at an academic
conference. ACM CHI 2005, April 2-7, 2005, Portland, OR
Social media. (2010, October 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:08, October 7,
2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_media&oldid=389142664
White, N. (2009, September 11). Backchannel resources [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.
fullcirc.com/2009/09/11/backchannel-resources/ (2010. September 29)