What is a
Backchannel
A backchannel is a conversation that takes place during an activity or event. It is common at conferences where attendees use Twitter to discuss presentations and announcements in real time. In higher education, instructors can use backchannels to share supporting resources, including multimedia elements, such as video, audio and GIFs.
Backchannels provide educators with a forum to ask questions and monitor student responses to determine how well they are understanding the concepts being discussed. Students can use the backchannel as a way to source class notes and resources, as well as collaborate with their peers.