Internet Chat Rooms have something of a
mixed reputation in the community. Many teachers and parents
see them as places that are dangerous for students.
However, in a school situation the
judicious use of chat rooms can be of real educational benefit.
In a controlled, educationally focused environment, students
can chat with invited guests who have been chosen by the teacher
for their specialist knowledge. Students can plan what they
want to ask of the guest and, because chat is more immediate
than email, they can practice the skill of asking follow-up
questions in this live online environment. Used in this way,
chat can improve students’ thinking skills and literacy
skills, and help develop critical literacy.
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A location on the Internet where
communication can take place in ‘real time’.
After you log in to a chat room, everything you type appears
on the screens of everyone else who is at that Internet
location to participate in that particular chat.
Each participant's statements are labeled with a nickname
to identify who is talking. Participants choose their
own nicknames and often decide against sharing their real
names, either to preserve anonymity or to take on a new
persona. Chat rooms are usually organized around a particular
topic and provide a place to “meet” people
who share similar interests.
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These general sites provide background information and
support for teachers to start using online chat with their
students:
- Conferencing
Aussie School House
Discusses chat rooms as one of the conferencing options
available to educators and provides information on
current projects being undertaken by members of Aussie
School House.
- Internet
Relay Chat [EDO-IR-99-01]
Carol Simpson January 1999
Explains how to chat and discusses educational advantages
and disadvantages.
- Kidlink
IRC Chat
Kidlink provides a private
place to chat that is not connected to the global
network of Internet Relay Chat on the internet. Teachers
can use the service with their students.
Live online Author Discussions
are an excellent means of extending students’ understanding
of a particular author’s works and the writing process:
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Setting up for chat does require technical support at
a school level.
What
if my school has a firewall and I can’t use these
chat sites?
The
educational value of chat or email should be taken into
account when school networks are established. Each school
should have procedures in place that allow teachers and
students to negotiate the level of Internet access needed
to meet their educational requirements.
For a discussion of this aspect of
Internet access see:
As McKenzie says:
We need to balance the needs of the network with the
desire to offer powerful tools, rich information and robust
communication to both staff and students. |
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Chat is a powerful tool
when used to achieve valid educational outcomes. However,
as teachers, we all have a responsibility to ensure the
safety of our students.
How do I ensure safe use of Chat?
- select a reliable, reputable
chat room such as Kidlink
- select a chat activity hosted
by a reputable organisation
- join in the activities with your students
- supervision is essential
- encourage parents to participate in
activities
- make use of the NetAlert
guidelines for safe Internet use
- make use of the Cybersmart
Kids Online guidelines on safe
chat.
- read Chatdanger
by Childnet International,
which was created to inform young people about the
potential dangers and ways of keeping safe in interactive
areas online, such as chatrooms.
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