Instant Messaging, Chat, EyeJot, YackPack, Skype, etc (Week 4)

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Teachers from the Trenches: How do you use these tools and what do you think about them being used in the classroom?

TECS 390 Students: Now that you have explored these, what do you think? Assignment details included in week 4 of Moodle.

Here is a discussion I just found on the topic, go here to read the discussions: http://classroom20.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=telephony

[Bronwyn Smith]

I thought this stuff was cool. I sent the yackpack thing to my sister. The best thing about this was the live chat. I would send my sister a text on her phone to tell her to log onto yackpack, and then we talk to each other over the computer, for free! This saves me a lot of minutes on my phone when I am at home. I also thought the eyejot thing was really cool. I had never heard about either of these before, and I will definitely be using them more.
When I have my own classroom, this is a really cool way for people around the world to communicate. I have family in Australia and I am trying to get my cousins to do the yackpack thing so that we can talk for free. This would be a really cool way for students to meet and talk with other students around the world, and I hope I can use it in my classroom.

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

YEAH!!! glad you are finding used for some of these tools, both personally and professionally.

[Amber ONeal]

While trying to set up AIM account, I found myself becoming very frustrated. I actually ended up removing it from computer for several reasons. First, I know very few if anyone that uses AIM. Like several others have mentioned, I most familiar and comfortable with using MSN messenger to keep in touch with family and friends. I used to have a yahoo messenger account setup but have since deleted due lack of use on my part. Chatting and instant messaging is a great tool for social networking; however, I think it should be left of the classroom because I feel it would create more problems than what they are worth.

The two other websites/programs that you had us visit served no purpose to me due to the fact that my computer does not have a webcam or a microphone. I was not able to send a message through either of those programs as well.

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Difficult to believe your computer does not have a microphone. Most all computers in the last 2-3 years have them. But most of the time they are turned off. Generally, you will find settings in the control panel. And if it really doesn't have a microphone, you can purchase them at Wal-Mart for under 10 dollars. Having Voice Recording capabilities on your computer is really important. There are more and more ways to use in the classroom. And You will quickly discover that there are more assignments in this course that you will need a microphone for. If not you'll likely need to find a computer to use that has that capabilities. And WebCams are really cheap tooo, under 20 dollars and they have built in mics, so you kill town birds with one stone.

And serving no purpose because you don't have equipment does not mean they are useless. Likely you will teach in a school that does have the equipment and is valuable to see how other teachers are using.

[Katie Short]

I think the instant messaging is a grest tool for students to use to communicate with the teacher outside of school. It would allow the students to contact the teacher with much more ease. The teacher could have a time every night that he/she would be availabe to contact by instant message to answer questions. I also like the YackPack and think this would also be a great tool for students to use to communite with the teacher or other students. The only problem that I see with doing much of this outside of school is the students who do not own a computer and would not be able to participate. The school district that I live in has a high number of minority students whose families cannot afford technology.

[Carrie Raymer]

I have never hear of eyjot, skypechat, yachpacks. The only one I am familar with IM. I tried to add this to my computer but was unable to download for some reason. I still have dial up and I think it is to slow.

[Kelly]

I never created an IM account until now. I think it will be fun to get started and work with it a little. I remember my younger sister being addicted to it in high school, but for some reason my other two sisters and I didn't ever really get into it. I had a little bit of a problem setting it up. I don't really like having to go into my email account to get passwords or verify an account when I am setting something up. I understand it is a good thing, but I just hate that extra step.