Instant Messaging Essays -- Essays Papers

Instant Messaging Instant messaging is a tool used by a vast majority of Internet users. This new tools has some advantages and some disadvantages. IM is used a lot of the time in education. It’s used for recruiting and admissions, student-faculty communications, library consultations, group projects, and immediate feedback, and discussions during lectures. Businesses are also finding instant messaging useful, as well as the deaf community. Some of the disadvantages are that teachers don’t feel comfortable using IM, instant messaging might interfere with students work, and viruses can be passed via instant messaging through links. Instant messaging seems to have a more positive side than negative. Instant messaging has many benefits and that’s why so many people use it today. Instant messaging can happen instantly. One doesn’t have to sit around and wait for a response like with e-mail. Someone stated that, â€Å"You can check to see if a pal is online and available, key in a â€Å"Wassup?† and you’re chatting away† (Reid, 2004). Also, IM has a big impact on students. With instant messaging they’re able to, â€Å"create, join, leave, and rejoin at will what the Pew Internet group calls â€Å"virtual study groups† (Woods, 2002). There are always some communication delays because of dinner interruptions or a favorite television show may be on. A high school girl stated that, â€Å"Not only do I research online, but I also use it for chatting with people for school. If I forget an assignment or need assistance on a concept I cannot grasp, the Internet is an easy way for me to get in touch with a peer who might be an aid to me† (2002). If a student has a teacher’s screen name than he or she can get imm... ... American Life Project. Retrieved March 25, 2004 from Ebsco Host: http://web10.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=1&_ug=dbs+f5h%2Ceric+sid+8DCA235D%2DE69. Reid, Goldsborough. (2001). Instant Messaging for Instant Communications. Black Issues in Higher Education, 18. Retrieved March 25, 2004 from Ebsco Host: http://web10.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=1&_ug=dbs+f5h%2Ceric+sid+8DCA235D%2DE69. Robinson, Stacey. (2001). Morris Library serves students with instant messaging system. Retrieved March 22, 2004 from http://www.dailyegyptian.com/btc01/seca/im.html. Woods, Bob. (2002). Digital Divide between Students and Educators? Retrieved March 24, 2004 from http://www.instantmessagingplanet.com/public/print.php/10817_1447791. Yared, Diala. (2002). Instant Messaging. Retrieved March 28, 2004 from mason.gmu.edu/~dyared/NCLC348/Instantmessaging/competencies/diala.htm.