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Teacher's Net

Lesson 1: Communications, Part One

Instant Messaging

About Instant Messaging

"Instant Messaging forms a very distinct level of synchronicity between a real live conversation, such as on a telephone, and a fully asynchronous conversation, such as e-mail. E-mail requires a back and a forth with any set of time periods between that, where as instant messaging is more in real-time but still is in a text-based form. The advantages are that you can do a real-time type of conversation or communication while involved with other sorts of tasks (a telephone call or application activity). E-mail is something that you do and come back to where as instant messaging is something you can embed into a process, [such as] a help desk situation." (see source 2)

In easier terms? Instant Messaging, or IM, allows you to have a conversation with another person as quickly as you can type.

Pro's of Instant Messaging in an Educational Setting

Because of the presence of technology, IM is one thing that nearly every student is already familiar with. In this setting, they don't have to fear the judgement of classmates - they can talk to their teacher naturally, asking questions and receiving answers instantly.

Apart from teacher-student communications, benefits of using IM in an educational setting center around the Internet's worldwide access; students can interact with other students across the world from them. In this way, not only are students allowed to improve their communication skills, but they are learning geography and culture.

Con's of Instant Messaging in an Educational Setting

Aside from the (usually) minor security risks, which are discussed below, the most present disadvantage of IM is its potential to be a time-waster. If your students are messaging friends at different schools, discussing last night's sitcom, they're benefitting little beyond the basic communication skills. However, if students are using IM in a structured way, discussing classroom activity and using IM for collaboration among different students and groups, they are saving time and gaining huge benefits that could only be gained by lengthy visits to other schools and, in some cases, other countries.

Safety and Security

The basic process which IM uses to deliver messages back and forth involves data called "packets". These packets are not secure, which means that "eavesdropping" is possible- some one could be reading your conversation, and you would never know it. Another safety risk involves the use of "handles", the nicknames that people choose to use online. The handle "MissMinnie" would mean very little, and tells nothing about the person you're talking to. For this reason, it's important that cross-school communications be initiated by teachers, as a collaboration between classrooms.

One quick myth: IM does not spread viruses. If you're concerned about viruses, a no-download plan needs to be instituted (most computer labs already block files from being downloaded). IM itself has no way of passing a virus from one computer to another. Period.

Assessment

Assessing the benefits of IM involves a process of weighing benefits and disadvantages. The IM Assessment Form in the Worksheets and Lesson Materials section can be printed as many times as you need, and will guide you through the process.

Integration

Some quick ideas for integrating IM into the classroom and lessons:

Create a specific schedule of time(s), about 1 hour 3 days a week, when students can contact you via IM for lesson-related questions.

When pairing students into groups for research and other class work, encourage them to share their ideas during homework via IM.

Create a "pen-pal" program involving a school in a different state or country, by contacting another teacher. Pair students with a pen-pal who they can share ideas with via IM.