Using the Private School Chat Room Dateline: 11/03/97

Last week The Mining Company rolled out what I consider to be a quite remarkable facility: Chat Rooms on all 550 of the individual sites which make up TMC. For me as an educator, the Chat Room offers one more technological marvel as a tool in my teaching kit bag! Let's look at some of the possibilities; doubtless you can think up many more uses!
 

• Joint projects with other schools around the world
• Exchange and discussion of trends and ideas between teachers
• Admissions Open Houses
• Academic and research help

Joint Projects with Other Schools The Chat Room on this Private School site may be used for joint projects with other schools around the world. Last year, for instance, my eighth grade Latin class did a mythology project with a school in New Zealand via e-mail. Chat will give that sort of  project immediacy and excitement as the two classes log on and begin to exchange answers online. I am sure that similar uses can be put forward in other disciplines. Exchange and Discussion Most of us use e-mail to exchange ideas. It works very well. Using Chat to supplement e-mail takes discussion to an even higher level by adding the element of immediacy. Forums, seminars, round tables, etc. are all valid uses of this facility. Admissions Open Houses Recruiting students is a critical function of any independent school. Recruiting trips, open houses and the like are all part of the program. Now you can add Chat to your lists of tools. Schedule a Chat Session and use the privacy feature to keep your conversations totally private. It is quite cost-effective. Academic and Research Help Chat affords students yet another resource for help with their studies and research. Please use it to set up study halls or work groups.

In conclusion, please let me know how the Private School Chat Room can fit into your academic life. I want it to be useful and productive for you.

Next week:  Sports Facilities: mens sano in corpore

Please tell a friend about this site! Word of mouth is always our best advertisement. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Send them to your guide!

Previous Features