Just saw this great article on using instant messaging and text messaging in the classroom. Bonus points if you read it and either gabcast or blog about it!
Article
Suzy
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2 comments:
I can see some limited, defined times when instant messaging could be used in the classroom. Perhaps you could be playing Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and you could phone a friend to try to find an answer, but only for so many seconds or minutes. I can't imagine texting going on during choir rehearsals or lectures or other presentations, unless it was planned into it. I think we need to teach human courtesy. I think kids don't realize that they are being rude by texting at inappropriate times. Is it really 75% of teenagers that text? If IM is used during class, what happens to the other 25%?
Personally, I'm a bit leery of in class texting--even if it is for academic purposes. The schools listed in the article either have very liberal cell phone policies, or the teachers are backing clandestine use. I know Mapleton Jr. High and Springville HS don't allow students to use phones--how successful they are is probably debatable.
The idea of IMing between student could be facilitated another way. Lots of classes go to computer labs during the period. IMing a partner to brainstorm or joining a chat room to discuss a novel or current event would be a great way to incorporate technology in the classroom. Teacher would have an easier time monitoring the students, even joining in the conversations at a terminal in this setting as well. I've watched my fellow students IM or text on their cells during class discussions--it's very easy to hide the phone and just chat.
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