TodaysMeet
What is TodaysMeet?
With TodaysMeet you can set up a page like the picture below (Figure 1). What you type in the message box appears in the "Listen" scroll window (Figure 2).
How Do I Use It?
The classroom I use has two large monitors. I display the TodaysMeet page on the secondary monitor that is installed on the side wall as in the picture below (Figure 3), and I monitor it throughout the class period. Each student generally has the TodaysMeet page open on their laptop, tablet or smartphone. Students are encouraged to express their questions, comments and answers to my questions through TodaysMeet as illustrated below (Figure 3).
I also use TodaysMeet to take attendance. I begin my class by asking students a question, and students answer the question through TodaysMeet. I use their answers as a proof for attendance. It works better than having them say "here," "I'm here," or "present."
In the past, I just had students post random things. Then some students began faking attendance by posting things even if they are not in the classroom.
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Challenge
Unlike Twitter, students don't use TodaysMeet in their private lives. Getting them to feel comfortable with sharing their thoughts freely through TodaysMeet is a challenge. One of the things I tried that worked really well for promoting the use of TodaysMeet among students is to:
- Require students to post at least two comments or questions during class presentations by students.
- Have students answer my questions through TodaysMeet.
- Share URLs through TodaysMeet and have students do the same when they need to share URLs.
- Acknowledge all comments posted by students.