Getting Started Using Chat

This activity walks students through the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) registration process.  After each student receives an AIM screen name, they are taught the fundamentals of Internet chat.  This is all accomplished while they are using English to communicate with their classmates over the Internet.
 

Why AIM?
1. AIM is very simple to use.
2. You can cut and paste an AIM discussion into a word processing program for editing.
3. AIM is not cluttered with advertisements. 
3. AIM is free.
 

Installing AOL Instant Messenger
If you are using a recent version Netscape browser and it has an instant message icon, you already have AIM installed on your machine so you can ignore this section.  Go to the Registering  A Screen Name section.
1. Go to www.aol.com
2. Click on the AOL Instant Messenger link in the community column.
3. Click on Sign Up Now.
4. Don’t enter registration information yet.  Scroll down and click on the Get Latest Version link.
5. Click on the appropriate platform.
6. When you get the Save As dialogue box, save to any directory you like.  This is only an installation program and you can delete it after you install AIM. Remember the directory that you are saving the file in. Click Save.
7. Close Netscape (or whatever web browser you are using) after file transfer is complete.
8. Use Window explorer to find installation file (aim95.exe). Double click aim95.exe.
9. In AOL Instant Messenger License Agreement Dialogue Box Click yes.
10. After you get the AOL Instant Messenger Installation Dialogue Box, close all other program you are running and click Next
12. AOL Instant Messenger Installation Dialogue Box displays this path C:\Program Files\aim95.exe.  Click Next.
13. Choose if you are using a modem or a LAN (Network). Click Next
14. Ready To Install! Click Next.
15. Wait a minute or so. Click OK and setup is complete.
16. When you get the AOL Instant Messenger Screen Name Dialog Box, Click cancel.

Registering  A Screen Name
In order to use AIM you have to register a screen name and a password with AOL.  This is a pretty easy process but I have had one problem with it.  If you are on a  single computer or a network, you can not register more than 4 or 5 screen names in one 24 hour period.  AOL cuts you off. One way I have dealt with this is by having a few students register for AIM  everyday until the whole class is signed up.  The other way is to register 25 screen names yourself with AOL and distribute screen names to members of the class.  The first activity I do with students using chat involves them trying to guess who they are chatting with so I like to have screen names that are not related to students’ real names.

1. Double click on the AIM icon on your desktop.
2. Click on the arrow next to the Screen Name box and highlight <new user>.
3. Click Sign On.
4. The New User Registration dialogue box will appear.  Click on Register new screen name.
5. This will open your web browser and bring you to the AIM Web site.
6. Fill in your Desired Screen Name, choose a password and enter your email address.  Click on Click Here.  Make sure that you write down your screen name and password.  Teachers may want to request that students write down this information on a form which the teacher will collect and keep record of.
7. If your registration is a success then you will get the AIM Download Now Web page.  You don’t have to do this because we already downloaded AIM.  If your registration is not a success it is usually because someone is already using your screen name and you have to pick a new one.
8. Close your browser and you are all set to use AIM