Comments on: Hopping Between Notetaking and Backchannel Conversations

By: Nancy White

Nancy White — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:13:10 +0000

That’s how I have often seen/used chat in web meeting tools - as a question platform.

I am trying to imagine how I’d manage participating in multiple chats AND listening.

By: Joitske

Joitske — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:16:56 +0000

Hi, I noticed in one teleconference that it worked to get people ask questions. It really worked very well. I wonder whether it’s best to annouce it beforehand whether it’s for note-taking or additional comments. Notetaking could actually be done in a different chat?

By: Nancy White

Nancy White — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:40:39 +0000

Rose, I think this is why I distinguish between the purpose of the back channel. When a team is cranking on a project, meeting notes serve a very specific purpose. When a back channel at an event is open for kibbutzing, heckling, conversation etc, it is a very different context.

So I agree, I would not want to stifle creativity and such. What I seek is some awareness of how I use a tool in which context and develop my practices to make the most of any situation. Including throwing food and yelling at actors. No no, make that eating food and yelling at actors!

Right now going against the perceived norm of any particular back channel culture is also quite an act of rebellion. (HAving been stomped on before for doing that.)

By: roseg

roseg — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:27:00 +0000

Hi Nancy

Whenever I’m on back channel chat I’m reminded of movies that depict Elizabethan theatres where the audience bring food, talk among themselves, yell out at actors and generally has a riotous time. Is there a parallel do you think? There’s something quite deliciously uncivilised about it that I would hate to lose as we “evolve” our way into future practices and norms…

By: Nancy White

Nancy White — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:54:47 +0000

Josien, I like the idea of different colors.

Michelle, first, my page of tips can be found here –> http://onlinefacilitation.wikispaces.com/Teleconference+Resources

Even if I’m using a traditional land line telephone bridge, I often use a chat tool along side - Skype, IRC, or other chat tool. I find it isn’t too successful to move a whole group at once to the new practice, but lure people in one by one!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:42:09 +0000

Hi Nancy,
What type of telecons do you use that you have chat access? Where I am living the local folks seem to be stuck in the old fashioned mode of conference call with dial in numbers. I have tried for SKYPE but no takers at the regional level over here in the woods. It’s unfortunate as all my international work is SKYPE and I love it.
If you have tips on how to get people from conference call mode to other modes, I would be interested.
Thanks and perhaps a reply for KM4Dev?!. ,
Michelle

By: josien

josien — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:42:19 +0000

Ha Nancy, I’ve the same! Often in telecons with many people the joint-note-taking-chat becomes a mix as people start using it as a collective back channel. We should have two different chat environments open, or two text colours in one chat!