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Back Channels in the Classroom: Harnessing the Power of Chaos   

Have you ever encouraged your students to pass notes in class? Does the mere thought turn your stomach and set your teeth chattering? 

Now, imagine if you could harness your students’ natural desire to communicate by using a new form of collaboration that benefits them (and you). That’s where back channels come into play.

Back channels are secondary communication streams that occur alongside a primary classroom activity or lesson. While you deliver a lesson, students can use a back channel—such as texting, instant messaging, social media, or even clickers—to collaborate, pose questions, contribute insights, or ask for help.

Embracing Back Channels

If students are already messaging about your lesson—or anything else—while you’re teaching, a back channel (although unmanaged) is already present in your classroom. 

The good news is that you can embrace back channels to focus students’ conversations on the task at hand, and to collectively learn from the content of those discussions.

Begin by posting a question in the agreed-upon back channel (some examples are listed below), which allows you to seed the discussion. You can observe the conversation as it unfolds in real time and adjust your direction based on whether the class is engaged. 

• TodaysMeet
• Padlet
• Socrative
• Twitter (use a hashtag relevant to your class)

You can also appoint a designated scribe to record in-class discussion points into the back channel—creating a shared transcript of the day’s lesson for students’ review.

Also, remember to set clear expectations for the use of the technology (e.g. requiring students to place the devices screen-down on their desks, when needed).

Harnessing the power of back channels in your classroom can help improve communication and encourage students to use 21st century skills they’ll need for success in college and their future careers.

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