I chose this quote because I also remember my first IM experience. I was a freshman in high school. I had one of those huge desktop computers. I was so excited because it was my first computer. I still remember all of the kids talking about this IM thing at school and how great it was. I can still remember creating my screen name and creating a buddy list by adding all of my friends. That became our new way to communicate. My friends and I didn't call each other on the phone anymore, we talked over IM. I agree with the author about being overwhelmed by the speed at which the conversations flowed. It definitely took some getting used to. The thing I remember the most is using all of the abbreviations. Although I used IM all through high school, I haven't used it since.
I chose the image below because I definitely see students doing this when they're supposed to be doing something else. One of the reasons we have to constantly monitor what they are doing on the computer.
1. How can instant messaging support reading and writing in school?
It supports reading and writing because it is another form of communication. When students are instant messaging they are simultaneously doing a number of things: "decoding, encoding, interpretation, analysis, multi modalities, inter textual reading and writing, lateral reading, collaborative discourse, and multitasking." They have to be able to read and interpret information quickly and then respond in order to communicate with someone else.
2. How did your attitudes and beliefs about the value of instant messaging change as a result of reading the research in instant messaging as a literary practice?
Before reading this research I had never thought of instant messaging as a literary practice. I simply thought of it as a convenient, quick form of communication; just like email or text messages. After reading this research I can see how it is a form of digital literacy. It requires reading and writing skills, just in a different way. It is an example of a way we can prepare our students to be digitally literate in the 21st century.
Source
Carey, J. (n.d.). Instant Messaging: A Literacy Event. Retrieved June 25, 2013, from Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6DFAmexYq7vYWdXV2RacF9EVXc/edit
I see the value of instant messaging in school, however, like your cartoon shows, I worry about being able to monitor its usage. Do you know any instant messengers that allow teachers to view student conversations? I use BrainNook in my classroom and it does have an instant messenger within the program so that I am able to monitor my students' conversations. It generally only takes one time of telling a student "I don't think the comment you made to so and so was appropriate for school" for them to realize they will be held accountable for what they are conversing about. However, that instant messenger is geared toward the games on BrainNook. I don't know of any others that allow the teacher to monitor their students' conversations. So right now, I am just sticking with blogging on Kidblog. That way I can read and approve the comments before they go public.
ReplyDeleteNever fails! I looove your image!!! It is the truth! Good thing nowadays they have blocked websites at school that allow IMing and messages (facebook, twitter). I picked the same quote as you! I remember my first experience IMing. I loved it! I thought it was a much easier way of communicating because I was shy back in the day!
ReplyDeleteI picked the same quote, because I know how difficult it was when I was in middle school trying to figure out all the meanings in abbreviated texts used in Instant Messaging. Also, I have to admit that I'm guilty of IMing during class. I had one particular class in college that I couldn't stay awake in unless I was chatting or texting.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in school we didn't have computers or cell phones. So when things got boring we would use things called pencils or pens and write messages on something called paper. We would hurl them through the air when the teacher turned their back to write on a something called a chalkboard. :)
ReplyDeleteOne way to keep students from texting when they get bored in class is too not let them get bored. Of course things will get boring every now and then...however, as a teacher, I would spend my energy making my classroom engaging rather than policing student use of cell-phones.