Chat

Chat sessions are real-time online text-based discussions. The chat area is part of the Virtual Classroom, but can also be accessed on its own without the rest of the features that make up the Virtual Classroom. You may choose to discuss a particular topic in class or as an office hour question-and-answer forum.

Here is the instructor view of the Chat:

In a Chat session, you can:

• Use the toolbar to manage Chat sessions

• Participate in a chat

• Send private messages to session participants

• View information about session participants

• Enable or limit functionality to students with a particular role

You can create a recording of everything except private messaging that occurs during a Chat session by recording it. Archives are saved by date; if two or more collaboration sessions occur on the same day, they are included in the same archive. You can create recordings, browse recordings, and remove recordings.

When working with Chat, consider the following:

• The Chat is a Java applet and therefore may take a few minutes to load in a browser window. To participate in a Virtual Classroom, you must have a Java-enabled browser and the Java plug-in.

• Unlike the Discussion Board, the Virtual Classroom is synchronous (occurs in real-time). Be sure to notify students about a scheduled Virtual Classroom session to ensure attendance.