Week 6: Instant Messaging

Read

7 Things You Should Know About Instant Messaging (PDF), by Educause Learning Initiative

View

Common Craft has not yet produced a video on Instant Messaging. This week's video is:
Instant Messaging with Meebo, by PCMechTV



Do

1. Use your browser to go to meebo.com. Either Internet Explorer or Firefox will work.
   
2. Create a Meebo account by clicking on 'Sign up now'


3. When you get to the screen that asks you to add your IM account information, put in your AIM, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and/or MSN account name and password. If you do not have one of those sign up here:
   
   
   
   • AIM
   
   
   • Yahoo!
   
   
   • Google
   
   
   • MSN
   
   
   
   


4. Send a chat to neiulibrary (available on all systems). You'll reach the reference desk. Say hi! Or drop me a note at lisacwallis (available on all systems).

That's all there is to it. The real benefit of meebo is that you can sign in in one place and access all of your different IM accounts. I'd recommend you at least sign up for two of the above services. After all, they're free. Plus, your family and friends are probably scattered among all of them. With meebo, you can chat with all of them at once.

Explore

IM has already been popular for several years. However, Meebo makes it so much more convenient. Explore the Meebo features including:

• Changing your page colors and/or design


• Adding a photo to your Meebo account


• Putting a Meebo Me widget on your blog. Just follow these instructions.