Exploring Student Interaction and Reflection Through the Use of Digital Backchannel Discussions

Teaching with Technology 2020

“…One reason for these improved responses may be that they have more time to process input (Abrams, 2003) and reflect on what they want to express (Althaus, 1997). By leveraging the social communication, connectivity, and heightened multi-tasking skills associated with the everyday lives of students, it is possible to free up the valuable face-to-face interaction time (Jarrett & Devine, 2010;Williams, 2000) for more comprehensive in-class discussions that may positively influence subject matter reflection (Donnelly, 2016). For example, Twitter microblogging as a backchannel technology affords mobility through SMS messaging capabilities (Honeycutt & Herring, 2009), allowing users to engage in collaborative research anytime and anywhere.…”

“…Digital backchannels have been utilized to connect synchronously in large classes and venues to support various forms of student-to-lecturer and student-to-student interaction to make interactions in large classes similar to those occurring in small classes (Beatty et al, 2006;Donnelly, 2016). These synchronous interactions do not form a single conversation but instead multiple monologues with a few dialogues between users (Ross et al, 2011).…”