Backchannel+LiveBlog+2010

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Live Backchannel
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Q&A
A number of questions were asked during the above backchannel. For both participants and people finding this archive later, here are those questions and my answers.

1. What does that mean to set up hash tag? What is a hashtag? -- A hashtag is a way of tracking information. It begins with the # sign and is followed by some combination of characters (letters & numbers) that are (hopefully) unique to the session. It allows people to focus on certain bits of information. The hashtag for this year's PETE&C was #petec2010

2. Can you access this back channel after the fact as a record of the conversation? -- In most cases, yes.

3. How do you ensure that the conversation in the backchannel is educational, beneficial, and appropriate to your class? -- Set expectations before the start of the activity or moderate the backchannel for appropriate content.

4. Do you always set your backchannel to approve comments or would there be a time to allow "free and open" comments? -- I most often approve comments before they go live, but there might be a setting when you want to go "free and open." That's harder to do in Cover It Live, but is possible. You might want to choose a different tool if that is primarily what you want to do.

5. If you moderate are you checking posts before they appear? -- Yes.

6. Some students here are quick typists. Does this impact on the teacher/student perception of participation in a backchannel conversation? -- It hasn't impacted my perception. I know that as I read through things there might be some late comments after we have moved on. I just have to remind myself that these students aren't necessarily copying.

7. Can you edit the record if the student moderator doesn't live up to your trust? -- Yes

8. What are the ramifications for posting the archive for parents, teachers, or administrators to access once the backchannel is closed? parent permission needed?? etc. -- I post the archive on a wikipage, and you really have to know how to find it to find it. I do have a clause for these sorts of activities in a letter I send home on the first day of class, so to some extent, I have covered myself that way.

9. Where is the link to create a private message? -- In Cover It Live, that is only available to the moderators.

10. Do you think cover it live provides a "safer" environment for students that chat rooms, IMing or twittering if those tools are blocked in a district? -- Yes, I do think it's safer since some of those other products would allow for direct communication between students and thus open up the possibility of cyber bullying.

11. Could you explain what type of assignment you would give kids who are watching a movie involving backchanneling? -- For starters, I would have the students discuss the presentation of a scene (perhaps why it is portrayed differently than it is in a text) or identify literary techniques used within the movie.

12. Do any kids ever complain about backchanneling? -- From time to time a student will complain that it moves too fast.

13. How long does it take you to grade an average backchannel discussion? -- Depends on the quantity of input. Typically 30 to 45 minutes.

14. How difficult is it to set up a poll inside the backchannel? Can you set one up "on the fly" or do you need to have the questions set up ahead of time? -- It is not difficult at all to set up a poll, and it is very easy to set one up on the fly. Once comfortable with the interface, you can probably set up a poll on the fly in 60 seconds or less.

15. Do you need permission slip for this type of activity? I do have a clause for these sorts of activities in a letter I send home on the first day of class, so to some extent, I have covered myself that way.

16. Can we revisit DI's question about typing speed being a possible limitation for students? -- The more comfortable and confident the students are with timing, the more natural the participation in the backchannel will be. Typing speed is not a factor in getting in first with a response in my backchannels. I, instead, am looking for unique and thoughtful responses. Anyhow, don't make it a race, and I think the limitation goes away.