eLearning Blog: Instant Messaging: Is there validity for curriculum integration?

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:

  1. It can be used to provide on-demand just-in-time support for students.
  2. Mutliple conversations can be occuring between students or between students and the teacher without any of them being interupted or disturbed.
  3. More students can participate than in a traditional class.
  4. It’s a great way to get to know, and then stay in touch, with students.
  5. It helps students prepare for a 21st century muti-tasking work environment. (Including the social use of IM while working.)
  6. It is a better way to contact teachers than calling or appearing in their room.
  7. It can be asynchronous, or synchronous.
  8. Reasons 1-4 (and 5 even) apply to tech coordinators’ (and administrators’) work with their teachers, too.
  9. It can provide a sense of connection for teachers issolated in their rooms.
  10. 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.