How far should educators go in matching the technology used in instruction and classroom activities to the technology their students use?

While I do believe there is a risk in going 'to far' with matching classroom and student technology step-for-step, I do believe that we as educators should be open to using the same technology that our students use. I'm pretty sure there's a middle ground we can reach.

Are online chats and instant messaging of value in the classroom? Do they add to student learning, or do they distract from “real” instruction?

While chatrooms can be used when students are not in one classroom, I think they do distract from students learning.

Are there benefits to asynchronous, text-based communication over synchronous, face-to-face communication? In what situations?

I think there are benefits to text-based communication. One, it doesn't have the spatial limits that face-to-face communication has, and can be essentially done anywhere. If a student is, say, sick at home, then a chat-room would allow them to interact with his or her fellow students.

Does using podcasts with students really enhance learning, or is it simply a newer version of passively delivering information?

You act like there's something wrong with passively delivering information. Some people learn better when they're able to listen to something, say, a lecture, over and over again. I think that podcasts can be used effectively in some ways.

Do videogames help develop your studying? Why or why not? Explain. What skills can you gain from it? Do you agree with the article? If you have children, would you let them play videogames every day? Why/why not?

Oh boy, this one is a bit difficult. Do videogames help studying? Yes and no. They can both hlp to teach and reinforce certain concepts and lessons, as well as a novelty that keeps the kid's attention. For example, history students can play Civilization to better understand diplomacy, or play one of those silly education games that I played when I was a kid. However, there is a risk with distracting your students with the sheer novelty of the experience. I agree that games can be used in an educational manner, but I don't see my students programming their own games any time soon.

As for my hypothetical children, yes, I would let them play videogames in moderation. I played Mario and other sorts of games a great deal when I was a kid, and I turned out well. Hell, have you SEEN some of the games we have today? I could probably write entire papers on the usage of symbolism and metaphor in, say, the Metal Gear Solid series or the recent Legend of Zelda games.