I have some random thoughts about Im'ing. First I was thinking about the inside school versus outside school use of technology. Last week I had one of my classes do the March Madness webquest from the math/science unit. Most of the boys really knew how to use the brackets and the links from the brackets to get information about the teams. It was one of the most engaging lessons I've done this year. So I felt like I was taking an interest and combining it with technology that they were familiar with and getting the students excited about math.

Second thought - the students in the reading talk about using partial sentences to keep their friends engaged. Well I often hit enter by a mistake and end up sending a partial sentence. So I was using this practive unintentially.

Third - I never heard of the * thing to correct a spelling mistake. I can't see me ever using it. It seems like too much effort

Finally - I don't think that I could ever maintain more than 2 conversations. I have a hard time when the four of us are trying to communicate in one chat.

I'm trying to figure out the difference between posting and commenting.

Anyway I agree with Barb. Sometimes I just want some quiet time. I have the Cox bundle and now when I'm watching TV and the phone rings a caller ID box pops up on the TV. So I can become the ultimate couch potato. If I don't want to answer the phone I don't have to move to know who is calling. The technology is awesome, but it makes me very lazy. I still prefer face to face conversations, but I have to admit that I've neve really been a phone person so if I have a quick comment or question I find texting, e-mailing or IM'ing quick and easy. There are certain people that I just don't call anymore because I know that I'll be on the phone for at least an hour. I still communicate with them, but not on the phone. Maybe when I finish with this degree program I'll go back to talking on the phone when I have an hour to spare.

Came across this

While doing the reading and checking the blog (thanks Cindy for the laugh) I came across this article http://burnafterblogging.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/instant-messaging-are-there-too-many-options-out-there/ and thought about it. In the past we would use instant messaging because it was novel and enjoyable. Nowadays I find myself becoming "invisible" so that I can get the work that I need to do without interruption from a friend or family member. In the beginning with the limited choice you only had one or perhaps two options. Now we find we are connected in so many ways with texting, facebook, my space, etc it is almost overkill. We can't get away from people. I find myself getting annoyed if I can't immediately reach someone but yet find myself not answering a cellphone call or an I'M because I just need space. So the question becomes are there too many options out there? Or do we just need to put the breaks on how connected we wish to be?