The document reports on a study that investigated students' use of instant messaging (IM) for community building in an online learning environment, finding that a majority of students used IM, primarily for socializing and discussing coursework with classmates, and that many felt IM helped them feel more comfortable and assisted their learning. The researchers recommend that online instructors consider adopting a more formal role for IM in online courses.

1. Usage of Instant Messaging as a
Means of Community Building in e-
Learning Environments
Presented By:
Morris Cooze and Michael Barbour

2. Purpose of Research
• The researchers investigated the use of
Instant Messaging (IM) usage among
students as a means of community building
in an e-Learning environment.
• What are the implications of IM usage for e-
Teachers as online learning continues to
grow?
• Which IM tools will students use to further
their learning online?
• Will the use of IM tools increase students’
chances of success via e-Learning?

3. Study Group
• Research was conducted with 41 students
enrolled in Enterprise Education 3205
through the Centre for Distance Learning and
Innovation. (CDLI)
• Students completed the prescribed
curriculum solely through an e-Learning
environment.
• An initial message posted to the discussion
forum during the fall term, 15 students
replied publicly with their IM accounts.
• Near the end of the course, 24 students
completed an online survey.

4. “As a general rule it will be
breakthroughs in teaching practice
that will make e-Learning more useful
and not breakthroughs in technology.”
(Nicholas, 2003)

5. Findings
• Of the 24 students, 20 indicated that
they utilized IM.
• 100% of IM users indicated that they
utilized MSN as their chat tool.
Type of IM Tool Used
MSN

6. Findings
• 67% of students indicated that the
reasons why they utilized IM was to
communicate with other students.
Use of IM
Yes
No

7. Findings
• Students listed the following reasons
for chatting with other students:
– Socializing – getting to know others.
– Communicate feelings about the course in
general.
– Discuss course work.
– To gain feedback regarding progress in the
course.
“Studies have found that chat sessions are more often
used by participants for socialization purposes.”
(Nicholas, 2003)

8. Findings
• 79% indicated that they did utilized
chat to communicate with others
outside of the course.
Use of IM to Communicate Outside
of Course.
Yes
No

9. Findings
• Students listed the following reasons
for chatting with others outside of the
course:
– Communicate with family and friends
from away.
– Meet new people.
– General chat.
– Gaming.

10. Findings
• 83% indicated that they did not utilize
IM to communicate with their
instructor.
Use of IM to Communicate with
Instructor
Yes
No

11. Findings
• Those that did use IM to communicate
with their instructor were split in their
reasons which included:
– Related to course work.
– General chat.
– Both.
“In terms of collaboration, the chat tools nurture
learner brainstorming and questioning, presenter
clarifications and explanations, role-play and
private one-to-one mentoring.”
(Bonk, 2002)

12. Findings
• 56% indicated that IM allowed them
to feel more at ease during vClass
sessions.
Comfort Level in vClass and IM
Yes
No

13. Findings
• Reasons listed why IM made them
feel more at ease in vClass sessions:
– IM allowed them to get to know others outside
of vClass.
– Felt more comfortable once they got to know
others.
– “Putting a virtual face to the names”
“…the use of Internet-based communication increases
the likelihood of completing course activities…”
(Ohlund et al, 1999)

14. Findings
• 56% indicated that IM assisted them in their
course work.
IM and Course Assistance
Yes
No
“It is important, for the sake of the content aspect to
integrate synchronous communication tools.“
(Avigail, n.d.)

15. Findings
• Students listed how IM could assist them
during online learning in the following ways:
– Assistance with assigned work.
– Pick up from missed classes.
– Get to know others and feel more comfortable.
– Talk to more than one person at a time.
– Obtain information quicker.
– Get in contact with the teacher quicker.
– Collaboration with classmates.
– Easy way to communicate.

16. Overall Student Impressions
“I think that if instant messaging was more widely used
for online courses, it may allow students to have
more contact with their teachers, and for them to get
more help with their assignments, or the work that
they are doing in the chapter at any given time.
vClass is good, but there are only certain times that it
can be used. Also, vClass may not fit on most home
computers (and is harder to use on dial-up). With IM,
it could be accessed at any time, and would be a lot
easier.”

17. General Trends
• IM is a tool that students feel comfortable in
utilizing, given the amount of use during
personal time.
• Students personally feel that IM assists both
in their learning and their sense of
“knowing” their virtual classmates.
• Based on these trends, e-teachers should
give consideration to adopting a more
formal role for IM in their e-Learning
environments.

18. Future Research
• Based upon our findings we feel that this
topic warrants additional research.
• Include content in WebCT on how to set-up
MSN, including the promotion by the
instructor, sharing of accounts to culminate
with a year-end survey.
• Performance comparison of IM users versus
non-IM users.

19. Bibliography
• Bonk, Curtis J. (2002). Collaborative Tools for e-Learning. Available
at http://www.clomedia.com/content/anmviewer.asp?a=41&print=yes
• Nicholas, M. (2003). A theory for e-Learning. Educational
Technology & Society, 6(2), 1-1-, Available at
http://ifets.ieee.org/periodical/6-2/1.html
• Ohlund, B., et al. (1999). Impact of asynchronous and synchronous
Internet-based communication on collaboration and performance
among k-12 teachers. Available at
http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~alex/pub/AERA1999/collaboration.htm
l
• Oren, Avigail. Communication Tools in an On Line Collaborative
Assignment – Usage and Preferences. Available at
http://www.eecs.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/ITHET01/proc/035.pdf

20. Contact Information
• Morris Cooze – mcooze@stemnet.nf.ca
• Michael Barbour – mkb@ncf.ca
• Presentation available at:
– http://www.ncf.ca/~an650