Instant+Messaging

**Overview**
Instant Messaging (IM) is a tool for connecting students/teachers in real time. IM uses any of a variety of freely available clients and servers from MSN Messenger, to AOL Instant Messenger, to Yahoo, to **Skype**. See the [|Wikipedia] for a comprehensive discussion of the tool.

**Uses of Instant Messaging (IM) in Education**
IM is an excellent tool for providing ad hoc conferencing. Student-to-student, student-to-teacher, and teacher-to-teacher collaboration is a powerful tool. This is less useful in classroom settings, especially where schools typically block access to the servers, and student time and attention is focused very rigidly. For distance applications, IM is invaluable.

**What Instant Messaging (IM) Does for Students**
IM fosters social presence and immediacy. IM provides a channel outside of the shell to help them feel less isolated.

IM provides a channel for the student to get assistance and support in real time, especially from other students. Example: A student working on a homework assignment IM's a buddy to discuss approaches, solutions, etc regarding a particularly challenging homework assignment.

Restrictions and Warnings: - All participants need to be online at the same time, regardless of timezone - All participants need to be using the same service (MSN doesn't talk to Yahoo, Yahoo doesn't talk to AIM, etc)

**Lesson Plans & Ideas**

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**Specific Program Links**

 * [|Microsoft Live Messenger (MSN)]
 * [|Yahoo Instant Messenger]
 * [|AOL Instant Messenger]
 * [|Pidgin IM] Cross platform IM Client, replacing GAIM (name changed due to AOL litigation)
 * [|Trillian] Cross platform IM Client
 * [|Meebo] Cross platform Web-based IM Client.
 * [|M4E Virtual Appliance] SMS Wireless Test Administration server for K12 - [|http://www.rtestedu.com]

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 * [|XMPP Standards Foundation]