Using Chat

This page really needs improving. Please see the page comments for suggestions of what to include, then remove this template when you're done.

Entering the chat

• 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:

• • 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:

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

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 /me or : to emote. For example, if your name is Kim and you type :laughs! or /me laughs! 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 with two or more participants, you need to click on the 'View past chat sessions' link in the upper right of the chat session page.

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. If you are the teacher or an administrator, you will also see a 'See this session' and a 'Delete this session' link underneath each of the individual listings.

In order to see the past chat sessions as a student, the teacher or an administrator must setup the chat to allow everyone to view past chat sessions. Please refer to the Chat settings page.

See also

• Using Moodle Chat module forum
• Using Moodle Positive use of Chat forum discussion