Occasionally I will use FB to chat with friends. We do not have access to IM at our school. I feel this is probably for the best. In the elementary setting you are rarely at your desk and if you are time is very limited so "chatting" is usually not the top priority. I suppose my feelings about IMing may show my "old age".
As in the case with texting, I see IMing as one more reason that our students don't learn to spell well. When my teenage niece started IMing me I refused to talk to her unless she spelled out the words--you can guess how long she wanted to chat after that. In my opinion, poor spelling links directly to poor reading and writing. I also see IMing as more of an "interruption" than a "convenience". (wow, Feeling really old right now---I even screen my phone calls sometimes if I am in the middle of something important! They'll call back right?)
I don't think screening calls means you are old...but I have to admit to using texting shorthand myself. I guess I would want to see some proof that using the abbreviations has a negative impact on "real" spelling...
ReplyDelete