Instant Messenger in Higher Education

Instant Messenger in Higher Education

Lisa Star, South Dakota State University

Stacy Smith, North Carolina State University


Presentation Outline

I. Overview of Instant Messaging Tools and Features

II. Introduction to Instructional Techniques using IM

III. Questions and Discussion


I. Overview of Instant Messaging Tools and Features

This section answers:• What is instant messaging?• How does it work?• What are the popular programs?• What are the common (and special) features?• Who is using IM? And why is it important to educators?


“Don't let the emoticons, slang and sound effects fool you into thinking that instant messaging is a novelty

confined to the Britney Spears set

-- it's serious business.”

“Three Small Obstacles To Enterprise Instant Messaging.” (CIO Information Network, March

2002)


What is instant messaging?

• Instant messaging (sometimes called IM or IMing) is the ability to easily

– see whether a chosen friend or co-worker is connected to the Internet and, if they are, to

– exchange messages with them.

• Instant messaging differs from ordinary e-mail in the immediacy of the message exchange and also makes a continued exchange simpler than sending e-mail back and forth.

Definition courtesy of.whatis.com


Poll

Have you ever used instant messaging to: Communicate with family/friends Communicate with co-workers Communicate with students (or teachers)

(Please select all that apply)


How does IM work?

1. First, a person using the Internet downloads instant messaging software and install it on their computer.

2. Next, they register a unique ID (aka “screen name”) with their IM provider.

3. When they are online and have the program running, their screen name is logged into the IM server, indicating they are available.

4. To connect to others, screen names of contacts are then added contact or “buddy lists.”

5. When both people are online and available, they can message one another instantly.


What are the popular programs?

• ICQ (“I Seek You”)• AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) • MSN Messenger (by Microsoft)• Yahoo Messenger

How to choose one?http://www.viewz.com/features/imguide.shtml


Poll

What IM program do you prefer to use?a) AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)

b) Yahoo Messenger

c) MSN Messenger

d) Other (Trillian, Jabber, etc)

e) None (never or rarely use one)


What features do IM programs offer?

Common:• One-to-one text chat• Group chat• Talk• File transfer• Status indicator• Emoticons• News headlines

Special:• Whiteboards• App sharing• Video conferencing • Shared web browsing


Who is using IM?

• More than 100 million people!– 41 million (nearly 40%) of home Internet users– Early adopter stereotype holds (young and male)

– Growing segment: “Britney Spears set”– Use growing exponentially in the workplace

• By 2005, instant messaging will surpass e-mail as the primary online communication tool

Data courtesy the Gartner Group, Jupiter Media Metrix and the Neilsen/NetRatings (2002)


Top 5 Internet Apps (2002)


What (business) benefits do people find with IMing?

• Get answers faster• Decrease email• Improve internal communication• Share information faster• Save time• Create sense of urgency• Decrease voice mail Data courtesy NFI Research


Poll

What benefits do you see with using Instant Messaging in Higher Ed?


So - why is IM important to educators?

74% of online teens use instant messaging. In comparison, 44% of online adults have used IM.

45% of online teens use Instant Messaging each time they are online.

69% of online teens use IM at least a few times each week. 37% of online teens have used IM to write something that they

would not have said in person. 41% of online teens say they use email and instant messaging

to contact teachers or classmates about schoolwork.Data courtesy www.pewinternet.org


II. Instructional Techniques

This section covers:• Instructional techniques that can be facilitated with IM programs• Benefits and drawbacks of using IM in educational settings• Rules for the Road: Good IM Practices


Virtual Office Hours / Mentoring

• Access to remote students• Facilitate time and space • Faculty mobility• Platform in use by students already• Industry adopting in business environment• Military use


Guest Speakers

• Invite speakers from long distance• Affordable usage of class time• Shorter duration• Speaker is more approachable• Transcribed• Controls needed to guide discussion• “Coaching” for guest speakers required


Collaborative Work Groups

• Means of communication without cost• More effective than email• Flexible tools and options• Allows for more interactive discussions


Class Discussions, Panels, Debates,...

• Small group designs• Ad Hoc – less planning• Less threatening for those who are intimidated in groups• Creative and productive designs


Lectures

• Deliver instructions, content, and information• Supplement course lectures• Lecture to students who may have missed face to face sessions• Allows for transcript• Use during class – can be done – but many controls needed


Tutoring/Mentoring

• Assistive technology• Direct contact without travel• Use of interactive tools• Less intimidating environment for many


Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits• Heightened “social presence” (esp.

important for DE students)• Available and functional for those

with Internet access• Provides faculty with increased

collaborative opportunities

Drawbacks• Growing expectation of ubiquitous

instructor access• Misuse during online and F2F

class can be an issue• Adds more time to the workload of

faculty


Good IM Practices

Social / Instructional• Don't use IM to replace e-mail• Learn IM etiquette (and enforce it)• Post hours you will be online in

your syllabus (with guidelines)• Have more than one screen name

(one for students; one for personal use)

Technical• Don’t divulge too much personal

info in your profile• Don’t transmit sensitive information• Don’t click suspicious hyperlinks• Don’t accept files from people you

don’t know• Install software patches and

updates


III. Questions and Discussion

Documents

Instant Messenger in Higher Education