wanda moyeIT780

Instructional Technology April, 2008

Instant Message’s Effect on the Work Place,

Education and the Home

INVENTION YEAR INVENTED

Telephone Electronic Computer Cellular Phone Web browser for exploring

Internet American Sign Language Printing Press Typewriter Wireless telegraph Braille Pencil Instant Messaging

1876 1945 1973 1993 1817 1450 1867 1895 1824 1565 1997

(TFK, 2003)

Instant Messaging (IM) and Text Messaging (TM)

IM & TM are real-time software packages whereby family and friends can communicate. Over time, corporations have adopted forms for the workplace.

(Farmer, 2005)

Company named Mirabilis created “ICQ” this is short for “I See You”

However, AOL, MSN, and Yahoo are the corporate giants that made the software available to their customers.

Originally, buddy list (other subscribers to the software) and chat rooms (specialty areas by invitation created communication by way of typing in text and waiting a response)

(Bird, Instant Messaging: Corporate Productivity Tool or Cool Toy)

This became time consuming and gave way to human ingenuity, the use of Acronyms (abbreviations for common spoken language)

Example….. • BTW means “By the Way”• POS means “Parents Over Shoulder”

(Garrett, An Essential IM Acronym Guide for Parents)

Originally the software packages where on home personal computers as a way for real time communication

It did not take long before the software became part of the work environment

Due to the wide numbers of computers in the classroom and the number of cell phones that use Text Messaging, it is also in the educational setting

Pros• Many corporations use IM and TM as productivity

tools

• It is suspected that it will exceed e-mail as the number one form of electronic communication

• It saves time and allows for easier communication

(Walker, 2004)

Cons• Security Concerns (viruses)• Unproductive time at the workplace

Some Solutions• Establishing Policies for IM usage• Blocking IM Communications Altogether

(Shinder, 2004)

Educators have been searching for ways to motivate students.

Today’s students are identified as Digital Natives (they use technology every day)

Pros• A form of socializing• Teach student how to control their own

behaviors• Allows for flexible classroom design• Discuss homework• Jobs require proficient technology skills• Inclusive for students that are not in the class but

want to be engaged

Cons• A class distraction• Special Needs and ADHD students need to be

kept on task• Just a form of socialization• Student have no self-restraint• Student will not use it for a learning device• Creates bad habits for writing skills

(DeGennaro, Donna & Texley, Sharon, 2005).

Last 2003, 65% of U.S. kids ages 2 to 17 used the internet from home, school, or another location

The gap between the haves and have not’s leave student without technology left behind

Children are losing verbal communication skills and family interaction time

Concerns• Concerns of online predators

• Sexual solicitation

• Children ordering items without parents knowledge

• Children using acronyms so parents do not understand what is being said

(Time for Kids (TFK), 2003)

Twitter• Free Communication Service for use with instant

messaging software and mobile phones

• Instead of instant messages you send “tweets” on tweeter’s website (short messages)

• It was started by a 10 person start up team

• You can tweet or be tweeted anytime of the day

(Pontin, 2007)

Alexander Graham Bell would be speechless to see a cell phone’s capabilities (www.wiki.answer.com)

Charles Babbage, father of the 1st computer would not be able to comprehend is size and power of today's laptop (www.computer-museum.com)

Philo T. Farnworth, father of television transmitter, would not be able to envision the digital flat screen television with hundreds of television stations around the world (www.tvhistory.tv)