1) I think there is nothing wrong with using the technology that your students use. As long as it is relevant to the course study. It would help keep your students interested in what you are studying in the classroom.

2) I do think that online chats and Instant Messaging could be a use in teaching our students. It is the current technology we are all using we use it on Myspace and every where else to keep in touch with our peers, why not use it in the classroom to keep in touch with our students. Not only that but chat rooms and Instant Messaging your students could be really useful to help them at home while they are doing there homework.

3)It is usually better to in my opinion, to have face to face communication with your students and their parents, but sometimes i have to agree with the book it is not enought. Asynchronous conversations is important but i dont think that it is more important then face to face communication. You can't lose touch with your students by using technology all the time yeah its good to use when you are in a hurry but you can easily lose touch with your students if thats all you use to keep in touch with them. All these forms of talking and having conversations technologically can't take up what we have been doing for years, talking face to face with our peers.

4) Using podcasts is just a new way of passing information now a days. Everything today is do it as fast as you can doesn't matter if its right or effiecent just do it in the least amount of time possible.

5) Using videogames in the classroom can and cannot be a good thing. If you are teaching little kids it could be a new and creative way to get what you are trying to teach them through to them to where they understand it. But if you teach middle schoolers and high schoolers and you use video games in your class room you can kiss learning anything good bye. Because all its going to be about in the classroom is about playing video games.