I am not sure that technology for instruction and activities in a classroom will ever quite catch up to the technology that the students use. It seems like students, especially teenagers are always ahead of adults. That being said, it is important for teachers to stay up on the latest technology for teaching. By doing this, teachers will be able to captivate their audience and give them a more current learning experience.
Online chats and instant messaging seem like they would be distracting if used in the classroom. However, they could be set up to be used outside of the classroom. This would give the students more time to discuss projects or assignments, without interrupting the "real" instruction.
There are several benefits to asynchronous, text-based communication over synchronous, face-to-face communication. First, some students are not very assertive and they may not get a chance to contribute to the discussion. Second, some students are not native English speakers, and therefore will need extra time to translate their thoughts. Third, asynchronous communication can take place with students of other classrooms, even around the world. Overall, asynchronous communication can encourage different points of views and deeper learning for everyone.
Podcasts are basically a newer version of passively delivering information to students. There are some benefits and drawbacks, though. One benefit is that the student can listen to the podcast at the time and place of his/her convenience. Another benefit is being able to rewind the podcast and listen again to parts missed. On the other hand, students are not able to stop the educator and ask questions, which would be a drawback to using podcasts instead of face-to-face instruction. Also, listening to a podcast prevents the audience from seeing the facial expressions and body language, which sometimes results in effects being lost.
Videogames can help develop studying if the games are educational and relevant to the material. Students can develop excellent hand-eye coordination and repetition of material can lead to memorization. Also, videogames enhance learning by providing visual and sound effects, which will help the students learn the material. I have children now, and I limit their videogame time to 30 minutes per day. Since two of my boys have ADHD, the short time limit reduces the amount of frustration they experience.
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I agree that the younger the generation, the more advanced they are in technological uses. I think that it is imperative that teachers fully understand the latest technology trends to make the learning experience better for the students. I also agree with your opinion about instant messaging, it can become a distraction in the classroom but may be a great tool outside the classroom so that students can communicate with one another without having to exchange numbers or having to meet somewhere.
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