Using Chat

2012-08-20T03:57:58Z

Fmcorz:

{{Chat}}
==Entering the chat==
[[File:Enterchat.png]]

*As you click the chat link on the course page you see two or three options:
**Click here to enter the chat now - this takes you to the chat using the chosen site default chat method - for example Ajax.
**Use more accessible interface - this gives a simpler chat room without frames and javascript:

[[File:Accessiblechat.png]]

**View past sessions - if this has been enabled and the user is allowed to view past chat sessions, this takes them to a list of past sessions with links to the chat.

==Joining in a chat session==
*In normal view, the screen is in two parts with the participants on the right, the messages on the left and a box at the bottom into which users type their message and press "Send" to make their contribution:

[[File:Ajaxchat.png]]

*Users can change the appearance of the messages by clicking on "Themes" next to the "Send" button. ''Bubbles'' appears thus:

[[File:Bubbleschat.png]]

The chat module contains some features to make chatting a little nicer.

;Smilies
:Any smiley faces (emoticons) that you can type elsewhere in Moodle can also be typed in here and they will be displayed correctly.

;Links
:Internet addresses will be turned into links automatically.

;Emoting
:You can start a line with <code>/me</code> to emote. For example, if your name is Kim and you type <code>/me laughs!</code> then everyone will see "Kim laughs!"

;Beeps
:You can send a sound to other people by hitting the "beep" link next to their name. A useful shortcut to beep all the people in the chat at once is to type "beep all".

;HTML
:If you know some HTML code, you can use it in your text to do things like insert images, play sounds or create different coloured and sized text.

==Chat reports==
*To view previous chats (if you have permission) click on the 'View past chat sessions' link. Teachers can also access past chat sessions from the Chat administration in the Settings block.

[[Image:Pastchatsessions.png]]

*This will bring up a listing of each chat session under the current chat topic. The listings include the time the chat started and ended, which users participated, and how many messages each user sent.

*In order for students to see past sessions, the teacher or an administrator must setup the chat to allow everyone to view past chat sessions. Please refer to the [[Chat settings]] page.

==Exporting chat sessions==
*Users with the ''mod/chat:exportparticipatedsession'' or the ''mod/chat:exportsession'' permission can export past chat sessions to any portfolio enabled by the administrator:

[[File:Exportchat.png]]

==Why use chat?==
*Chat has an advantage over a [[Forum]] in that it takes place in Real Time. It is especially beneficial when the group chatting is not able to meet face to face. Examples might be:
**Regular meetings of staff on large or split campuses to discuss student or curriculum issues;
**Regular meetings of students doing online courses to enable them to share experiences with others on the same course but potentially in a different city (or country)
**A teacher working with his students even though he is out of school
**A student temporarily unable to attend in person chatting with their tutor to catch up with work.
**Students out on work experience getting together to discuss their experiences with each other and their tutor
**Younger children using chat at home in the evenings as a controlled(monitored) introduction to the world of social networking

==Why NOT use chat?==
*Unless a tutor/moderator is permanently present in the chatroom -or unless the chat is hidden and revealed at certain times, it is difficult to control what is said once a chat has started.
*Younger students particularly may find it difficult to stay on task and be prone to adding non-useful comments or "beeping" others for the sake of it.
*In some situations, a forum might be preferred as it allows for reflection before posting and gives a period of time where the post might be edited.

== See also ==

* Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=734 Chat module forum]
* Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=4792 Positive use of Chat] forum discussion

[[de:Chat nutzen]]
[[cs:Chatovací zasedání]]
[[fr:Participer à un chat]]

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Using Chat