Chat Room

What does it do?

The Chat Room tool allows participants to converse in real-time, sending instant messages to all participants in the room.  Instructors can create separate rooms.

How you can use it

• Enable real-time class online communication.
• Facilitate group or team discussions.

Instructions

Send a Chat Message

1. Click the tab for your course or project site.
2. Click Chat Room in the left menu.  If the chat tool is not listed, add it by Site Info > Edit Tools.
3. Type a message in the "Enter chat message" text box.
4. Click Add Message.  Message will appear above.

Create Other Chat Rooms

1. Click the tab for your course or project site.
2. Click Chat Room in the left menu.  If the chat tool is not listed, add it by Site Info > Edit Tools.
3. Click Options. 
4. Click Add Room.  
5. Enter a "Title" (e.g. Group 1 Chat Room).
6. (Optional) Enter a description in the "Description" text box.
7. Set the desired options under "Recent Chat Display."
8. (Optional) Specify start and end dates for students to be allowed to post in the chatroom.
9. Click Update Options to create the new room.

Access a Different Chat Room

1. Click the tab for your course or project site.
2. Click Chat Room in the left menu.
3. Click Options. 
4. Click the title of the desired room.

Enable Other Roles to Create Chat Rooms

1. Click the tab for your course or project site.
2. Click Chat Room in the left menu.
3. Click Permissions.  
4. Under the column for the desired role (e.g. Support, Instructor, Teaching Assistant, Observer), select the desired options.
• For students or basic participants, we recommend only "Create a new chat room."
• For teaching assistants, we recommend "Delete own chat messages" and "Create a new chat room."  You may optionally set any other permissions based on your needs.
5. Be careful not to disable any of your own permissions.
6. Click Save.

See Also:

• Add or remove tools
• Forums

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