I do think that educators should use their instruction and classroom activities to the technology their students use because you don't want to have activities that does not catch the students attention that was used 4 years ago, the teachers need to update their lessons plans as newer technology comes out. You always want to keep your students on their toes with learning new and interesting things that catches their attention.
I think online chats in a classroom and I.M are a value because it helps the students stay in contact with their other classmates in and out of school. I.M is a great way for students to communicate because you don't have to meet at someones house or plan lots of gatherings, you just log onto your computer and chat. They might distract to student learning but its up to the teacher for them to stay on task and on point. I mean its alright every once in awhile if they talk about something off topic but the teacher needs to walk around and make sure they are completing their work.
Podcasts can enhance the students learning because teachers use podcast episodes for students to listen to or watch on their laptops, iPods, Palm handhelds, Pocket PCs, or other devices that can be loaded with podcast episodes so students can use them at their desks, on field trips, in the library, or at home. Podcasts sounds like it would be a better learning tool tan just reading and going over power points all the time.
I don't think videogames help your learning they take away from it. I have been one of those where i come home from calss and want to play my game that i haven't turned off becasue i wanted to beat the level but i didn't have enough time becasue of class. Students who are involved with gaming get so involved in the game they don't keep track of time and soon as you know it it's 10:00 at night and then they have to stay up late to finish their homework and get little time to sleep or they might not even do their homework. I would not let my children play videogames every day their are other ways to enhance your learning besides video games.