Instant Messaging in Classrooms
 

       Some teachers feel that instant messaging is a learning tool, while other teachers believe it is a distraction in the classroom.  Teachers and other educators are starting to see the effect of instant messaging on teens' writing skills and are using the new kind of slang to teach better communication.  Billy Bednarz is a grade school teacher that has hands on experience with the role instant messaging plays on a young boys life. "I never see (instant messaging slang) creep into their writing," Bednarz said. "They know not to use it in their papers."  He also stressed that IM-ing can be beneficial to teens in terms of learning how to communicate. Teens using IM learn to be concise and accurate to convey their point. (Charleston)  Teachers and students both benefit from the exploding use of instant messaging.  Teachers can now easily direct students from class web pages to authentic web sites that are useful for the material being covered in the classroom.  While the students familiarize themselves with classroom material, they can also chat with friends on instant messenger.  Both of these are important for all young upcoming students to become comfortable with the online environment, and the newest technologies, which is essential because technology is becoming a vital part of the everyday world. (cyberclassrooms)  There are some who feel that teaching in younger level classrooms should be relayed over instant messaging systems, opposed to standing in front of the class where the students are not interacting as frequently.  "The teacher should sit at a computer and send an instruction to one of the computers, e.g. "Simon says touch your nose". The children who receive this message should then touch their nose. This should continue with the teacher sending different instructions to different computers. The children should only follow the instruction if the message begins "Simon says...". If they follow the instructions of a message which doesn't begin with the phrase, they are "out". Play continues until there is only one team left "in"."  This would be a great way to keep the attention of younger aged children while still having a learning session.  The type of system described above would be a great tool to use for grade school students to teach them how to follow instructions and be obedient. (Teaching Guides)  Although most believe that instant messenger is a good learning tool for students and the classroom, there are some who feel that it has a negative effect on students.  A 26-year teacher in Columbus, now teaching language arts and social studies to sixth graders, said most people "would be shocked" by the writing she sees from students. "It's scary," she said.  This teacher feels that students are using the instant messaging "lingo" in their formal papers.  The teacher added that there were many students in her class that could not write a formal paper without using the instant messenger vocabulary. (Newarkadvocate)   Even though there are some teachers who feel that instant messenger shows a negative effect on students performance inside and outside of the classroom, there are many teachers and even parents who feel it is an integral part of every students life in this and upcoming generations.
 

 

 

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