ED 603: Technological
Capabilities
The University of Michigan / School of Education
Internet Tool Review-Chat Box or Internet Relay
Chat
What is Internet Relay Chat (IRC)? The
first IRC program was written in 1988 by Jarkko Oikarinen at the
University of Oulu, Finland. This services enables participants to
use their keyboards to "talk" with one another in real-time in
virtual rooms or "channels" You can use telnet to send messages to
others who are online and receive messages back, instantly or
(synchronously) as though you were talking or "chatting". Educational
uses of chat rooms are great tools for teachers to exchange ideas.
Below is an annotated description of four of the most salient
features of Internet Relay Chat:
- IRC is a 'client-server'
program-The user runs a 'client' program from their local
machine, which then connects, via the Internet, to a 'server'
program which may not be running on that local machine. IRC is
not an official program. IRC operators are people who have chosen
to invest the time needed to set up and maintain that IRC program
on their local machines for the benefit of other local users.
- How Does It Work? The user first
chooses a channel to join. Channels are created or joined by
users issueing a command to the IRC program to join a channel.
He/She can choose a channel in operation and be added to the
discussion list or create a new channel in IRC. Last, IRC
maintains a list of people on the same channel and makes sure that
they see the typed message of those people of the same channel
- IRC can be used on Multi-user systems.
- You can create your own private or
public group-This is a useful tool for groups of teachers
to discuss about particular teaching methods and ideas in specific
subject while being at different locations.
- You can join a particular group or a
meeting place-you just need to log onto a server. See
Classroom
Connect Virtual Auditorium.
For specific informtion on IRCs see Electropolis: Honors Thesis by Elizabeth Reid
go to:
http://www.ee.mu.oz.au/papers/emr/electropolis.html#Pref.
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