The Chat tool allows you, your classmates, and your instructor to engage in real time conversations with one another. Your instructor will typically have you use the Chat tool to engage in class discussions, much like you would in a regular classroom environment. You can use the Chat tool to send text messages, create drawings, and share images. The Chat Tool
Typically, your instructor will create different "rooms" for different topics or themes; you and your classmates will enter the rooms to discuss the topic or theme. The Chat rooms in WebCT are just like chat rooms on the Internet. Chat rooms can be:
- combined chat/whiteboard, which allow you to exchange both text messages and images.
- chat only, which allow you to exchange text messages only.
- whiteboard only, which allow you to exchange images only.
The Chat tool also has the following features:
- You may be allowed to send private messages to other participants.
- You may be allowed to use an alias.
- You may have to "raise your hand" before you can participate in a chat or whiteboard session. In this case, your instructor will mediate the discussion.
- You may be able to view chat logs, allowing you to review the topics that were discussed.
If the Chat tool has been added to your course, it will appear under Course Tools. If you click the Chat icon, you are taken to the main screen for the Chat tool. Alternatively, your instructor may add a chat room to the Course Content Home, another folder, or the Action Menu of a learning module. If you click the chat room icon, you are taken to a screen that contains that specific chat room.
Now, let's look at how to navigate the Chat interface.
