instant messenger in higher education
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Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Lisa Star, South Dakota State University
Stacy Smith, North Carolina State University
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Presentation Outline
I. Overview of Instant Messaging Tools and Features
II. Introduction to Instructional Techniques using IM
III. Questions and Discussion
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
I. Overview of Instant Messaging Tools and Features
This section answers:• What is instant messaging?• How does it work?• What are the popular programs?• What are the common (and special) features?• Who is using IM? And why is it important to educators?
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
“Don't let the emoticons, slang and sound effects fool you into thinking that instant messaging is a novelty
confined to the Britney Spears set
-- it's serious business.”
“Three Small Obstacles To Enterprise Instant Messaging.” (CIO Information Network, March
2002)
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
What is instant messaging?
• Instant messaging (sometimes called IM or IMing) is the ability to easily
– see whether a chosen friend or co-worker is connected to the Internet and, if they are, to
– exchange messages with them.
• Instant messaging differs from ordinary e-mail in the immediacy of the message exchange and also makes a continued exchange simpler than sending e-mail back and forth.
Definition courtesy of.whatis.com
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Poll
Have you ever used instant messaging to: Communicate with family/friends Communicate with co-workers Communicate with students (or teachers)
(Please select all that apply)
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
How does IM work?
1. First, a person using the Internet downloads instant messaging software and install it on their computer.
2. Next, they register a unique ID (aka “screen name”) with their IM provider.
3. When they are online and have the program running, their screen name is logged into the IM server, indicating they are available.
4. To connect to others, screen names of contacts are then added contact or “buddy lists.”
5. When both people are online and available, they can message one another instantly.
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
What are the popular programs?
• ICQ (“I Seek You”)• AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) • MSN Messenger (by Microsoft)• Yahoo Messenger
How to choose one?http://www.viewz.com/features/imguide.shtml
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Poll
What IM program do you prefer to use?a) AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
b) Yahoo Messenger
c) MSN Messenger
d) Other (Trillian, Jabber, etc)
e) None (never or rarely use one)
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
What features do IM programs offer?
Common:• One-to-one text chat• Group chat• Talk• File transfer• Status indicator• Emoticons• News headlines
Special:• Whiteboards• App sharing• Video conferencing • Shared web browsing
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Who is using IM?
• More than 100 million people!– 41 million (nearly 40%) of home Internet users– Early adopter stereotype holds (young and male)
– Growing segment: “Britney Spears set”– Use growing exponentially in the workplace
• By 2005, instant messaging will surpass e-mail as the primary online communication tool
Data courtesy the Gartner Group, Jupiter Media Metrix and the Neilsen/NetRatings (2002)
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Top 5 Internet Apps (2002)
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
What (business) benefits do people find with IMing?
• Get answers faster• Decrease email• Improve internal communication• Share information faster• Save time• Create sense of urgency• Decrease voice mail Data courtesy NFI Research
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Poll
What benefits do you see with using Instant Messaging in Higher Ed?
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
So - why is IM important to educators?
74% of online teens use instant messaging. In comparison, 44% of online adults have used IM.
45% of online teens use Instant Messaging each time they are online.
69% of online teens use IM at least a few times each week. 37% of online teens have used IM to write something that they
would not have said in person. 41% of online teens say they use email and instant messaging
to contact teachers or classmates about schoolwork.Data courtesy www.pewinternet.org
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
II. Instructional Techniques
This section covers:• Instructional techniques that can be facilitated with IM programs• Benefits and drawbacks of using IM in educational settings• Rules for the Road: Good IM Practices
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Virtual Office Hours / Mentoring
• Access to remote students• Facilitate time and space • Faculty mobility• Platform in use by students already• Industry adopting in business environment• Military use
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Guest Speakers
• Invite speakers from long distance• Affordable usage of class time• Shorter duration• Speaker is more approachable• Transcribed• Controls needed to guide discussion• “Coaching” for guest speakers required
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Collaborative Work Groups
• Means of communication without cost• More effective than email• Flexible tools and options• Allows for more interactive discussions
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Class Discussions, Panels, Debates,...
• Small group designs• Ad Hoc – less planning• Less threatening for those who are intimidated in groups• Creative and productive designs
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Lectures
• Deliver instructions, content, and information• Supplement course lectures• Lecture to students who may have missed face to face sessions• Allows for transcript• Use during class – can be done – but many controls needed
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Tutoring/Mentoring
• Assistive technology• Direct contact without travel• Use of interactive tools• Less intimidating environment for many
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits• Heightened “social presence” (esp.
important for DE students)• Available and functional for those
with Internet access• Provides faculty with increased
collaborative opportunities
Drawbacks• Growing expectation of ubiquitous
instructor access• Misuse during online and F2F
class can be an issue• Adds more time to the workload of
faculty
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
Good IM Practices
Social / Instructional• Don't use IM to replace e-mail• Learn IM etiquette (and enforce it)• Post hours you will be online in
your syllabus (with guidelines)• Have more than one screen name
(one for students; one for personal use)
Technical• Don’t divulge too much personal
info in your profile• Don’t transmit sensitive information• Don’t click suspicious hyperlinks• Don’t accept files from people you
don’t know• Install software patches and
updates
Instant Messenger in Higher Education
III. Questions and Discussion
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