CHAT: Response

[Patricia A. Kearney]

> I have yet to see a chat session that wasn't idle chatter.
> 

I live in South Florida and am working on an internship through Florida
State's distance learning program in library science. Every few weeks
the "far away interns", i.e. those not in the Tallahassee area, hold a
virtual class with the professor in a chat room set up just for this
purpose. We discuss our work at our sites and receive assignments and
guidance from our professor and each other.

>From my understanding, FSU will soon be taking their distance program
completely digital and will be employing chat technology to offer
courses to people who are unable to attend in person. So, at least,
there is one legitimate use of chat rooms, and by all indications it
will increase in popularity.

This point may very well be moot, since most if not all students have
home access, but there is the possibility that this benefit could be
denied potential students if chat rooms were disallowed.

Patty Kearney
MLS Candidate
Florida State University