Drawing back the curtain: a scoping review of backchannel communication use in adult education environments 2001 to 2023

Abstract

Social interactions during the learning process encourage engagement and enrich the learning experience. Frequently, larger classes, student dispositional barriers, and time constraints in adult educational settings impact student interactions with peers or professors. This scoping literature review explores how educators and students leverage digital communication backchannels in adult educational environments to facilitate learning, participation, and engagement. By reviewing literature from 2001 to 2023, this paper uses a longitudinal approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of the required technology affordances, implementation practices, and instructional strategies for backchannel use in adult education.