When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe
and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and
demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical)
and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The
combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online
learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will
describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction
and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post
we discuss how Chatterous, a web tool for
back-channeling (see definition below) can be used to promote instruction
including Judaic instruction in the blended learning classroom.
Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has an interactive white board (i.e. SMART
Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a
computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD
projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access
to their own laptop computers or Ipads. Given parental and school
approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used
to enhance instruction as well.
Note: Although Chatterous can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning
classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service
Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that
Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of
practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft,
and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of
Jewish educators. For example, here is
a CoP you might want to join.
Note: Chatterous can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.
What is Chatterous?
Chatterous is a web tool
for back-channelling.
What is Back-channeling?
From an instructional perspective back-channeling is a secondary method to
transmit feedback from a student or a group of students to a teacher. In a face
to face classroom environment, students might be invited to pose questions or
comments from some web tool like Today’sMeet
or Chatzy. Typically during a webinar the
back-channeling method for communicating is via texting in the chat box.
According to http://21stcenturyweb.wikispaces.com/Back-channeling
In a classroom, there would be two methods of communication running
simultaneously. The predominant channel is the main tool that is used to
communicate information. The secondary channel (aka the back-channel) is for
the listener to provide assessments, questions, thoughts on the information
being presented, usually to reflect listener comprehension or interest.
For example, students may be watching a video, but back-channel their
reactions, thoughts, and questions about the video through an alternate method
of communication which can be broadcast in the classroom, such as through a
twitter feed.
Where is Chatterous located on the internet?
How the web-based
back-channeling tool Chatterous can be used to promote instruction including
Judaic instruction in the blended learning classroom
Click on the links below and find resources explaining how Chatterous can
be used to promote instruction including Judaic instruction in the face to face
and virtual classroom
- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/08/chatterous-create-private-or-public.html#.UYFJVKVOc9I
- http://timnewby.com/web2insite/2010/08/chatterous/
- http://wilkes.discoveryeducation.com/mguerreiro/tag/chatteros/
On the
next post we will discuss another back-channeling web tool, Hoot Course.
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