Comments on: IM in the classroom http://drdrew.edublogs.org/2008/08/12/im-in-the-classroom/ What good is math anyway? Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:15:32 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: drdrew http://drdrew.edublogs.org/2008/08/12/im-in-the-classroom/comment-page-1/#comment-7 drdrew Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:15:32 +0000 http://drdrew.edublogs.org/?p=7#comment-7 Jean- I will grant you that IM is excellent for any education that takes place over a distance, since that is the purpose of IM: communication that nullifies physical separation. However, in the (traditional) classroom, I think there are more efficient ways for shy students to communicate that have a lot less of a possibility for distraction than IM. I find that most often, common questions are held by the shy and the more vocal, which allows for the question to be answered for all. And when a shy student has a question that is more specific to their own learning, often times it is better dealt with outside of the class, since they usually need a prolonged and more personal interaction. Jean-

I will grant you that IM is excellent for any education that takes place over a distance, since that is the purpose of IM: communication that nullifies physical separation. However, in the (traditional) classroom, I think there are more efficient ways for shy students to communicate that have a lot less of a possibility for distraction than IM.

I find that most often, common questions are held by the shy and the more vocal, which allows for the question to be answered for all. And when a shy student has a question that is more specific to their own learning, often times it is better dealt with outside of the class, since they usually need a prolonged and more personal interaction.

]]> By: heymsk http://drdrew.edublogs.org/2008/08/12/im-in-the-classroom/comment-page-1/#comment-6 heymsk Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:54:07 +0000 http://drdrew.edublogs.org/?p=7#comment-6 What about the student who is shy and won't ever speak up in the classroom but still has a question? Using instant messaging allows the teacher to see the question, and perhaps it is a question that several people have, but no one wants to raise their hand to ask because they think they might get ridiculed for asking? Using an instant messenger will allow for a student to ask that question that might seem silly. The teacher can say "I have a question about..." and then go one to explain or answer the question so that no one knows who asked the question. I think that it is just one way to get more students to participate in the discussion. The Distance Learning Center in Arkansas uses instant messaging as one way to get participation and answer questions. They use it in the manner I have described above and it is a very effective way to use IM in the classroom. Jean Kiekel What about the student who is shy and won’t ever speak up in the classroom but still has a question? Using instant messaging allows the teacher to see the question, and perhaps it is a question that several people have, but no one wants to raise their hand to ask because they think they might get ridiculed for asking? Using an instant messenger will allow for a student to ask that question that might seem silly. The teacher can say “I have a question about…” and then go one to explain or answer the question so that no one knows who asked the question. I think that it is just one way to get more students to participate in the discussion.

The Distance Learning Center in Arkansas uses instant messaging as one way to get participation and answer questions. They use it in the manner I have described above and it is a very effective way to use IM in the classroom.

Jean Kiekel

]]> By: J. D. Wilson, Jr. http://drdrew.edublogs.org/2008/08/12/im-in-the-classroom/comment-page-1/#comment-5 J. D. Wilson, Jr. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:34:05 +0000 http://drdrew.edublogs.org/?p=7#comment-5 I think you make an interesting point. So often when we think of education and technology we think in terms of how technology is used in the classroom. For me one of the great values of technology is its ability to expand the classroom, either by enabling students in other schools, states, countries, etc. to communicate and work collaboratively together or by enabling students to continue working on something that was started in class after the class has ended. It rarely happens, for me anyway, that all the groups on a group project finish the project in class. It is difficult for all students in a group to get back together after school to finish the work. IM might be one of the options a group might explore if they need to continue an assignment after the bell has rung. Cordially, J. D. Wilson, Jr. I think you make an interesting point. So often when we think of education and technology we think in terms of how technology is used in the classroom. For me one of the great values of technology is its ability to expand the classroom, either by enabling students in other schools, states, countries, etc. to communicate and work collaboratively together or by enabling students to continue working on something that was started in class after the class has ended. It rarely happens, for me anyway, that all the groups on a group project finish the project in class. It is difficult for all students in a group to get back together after school to finish the work. IM might be one of the options a group might explore if they need to continue an assignment after the bell has rung.

Cordially,
J. D. Wilson, Jr.

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