eLearning Blog: Instant Messaging: Is there validity for curriculum integration? I just left a comment on this post, and I’m reposting the comment here (I’ve added two more reasons to make it an even 10):
I’m a big advocate of Instant Messaging in Education. My reasons can be summarized by these points:
- It can be used to provide on-demand just-in-time support for students.
- Mutliple conversations can be occuring between students or between students and the teacher without any of them being interupted or disturbed.
- More students can participate than in a traditional class.
- It’s a great way to get to know, and then stay in touch, with students.
- It helps students prepare for a 21st century muti-tasking work environment. (Including the social use of IM while working.)
- It is a better way to contact teachers than calling or appearing in their room.
- It can be asynchronous, or synchronous.
- Reasons 1-4 (and 5 even) apply to tech coordinators’ (and administrators’) work with their teachers, too.
- It can provide a sense of connection for teachers issolated in their rooms.
- It is a great way to stay in touch with others in your life, too. (Since we know that “and Life” is important to Education.)
Here’s a link to some of the posts I’ve written about IM in Education: http://edtechlife.com/?s=Instant+Message
Be sure to check out the original post, too.