To conduct a useful learning experience, especially in an online course, it is important to have a focused chat. That is, one that focuses on a specific topic of discussion so that it is easier to keep some order to the chat.
In some chat programs, you can even save all or just a portion of chat sessions for future use. This feature could be used to post to a class discussion area so that students not able to attend the live chat can read others’ postings and not feel left out.
Pedagogic Uses
- Oral quizzes:
Have your students meet with you individually online, and quiz them on course content. You can assess how well they know the material in just a few minutes of questions and answers. Using chat you can explore depth as well as breadth of your students’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts. Since your students sign up for the date and time of their own quizzes (you can provide an online or paper sign up sheet), you are giving them some control and responsibility for their learning experience. This supports a very student-centered approach to teaching. - “Debriefing” exercises:
Do you sometimes worry that one or more of your students did not write their own term paper? Access to the Web has unfortunately made it possible for students to cut, paste, and virtually lift entire papers at the touch of a computer key. You can use chat to debrief individual students after they turn in their assignment if you suspect plagiarism. Ask them questions about the assignment to determine if the work is really their own. - Transcripts can be a Study Tool:
After each chat session, post the transcripts to a Web page so your students can reread the conversations that took place during the chat. This offers your students an opportunity to review the discussion that transpired and gives those who were not present a chance to know what took place. - Language Study:
Use chat transcripts for grammar practice in language courses. For example, the dialog can be rewritten from direct to reported speech, or sentences can be analyzed for grammar, spelling, or vocabulary practice. This provides your students language practice on authentic texts since the conversations are real and the students themselves are the participants. - Brainstorming Sessions:
Students brainstorm as warm up activities for writing assignments. This can function as a pre-writing phase for the rough draft of a paper. - Small Group Work:
Break your class into small groups of 3-5 students, and have them schedule chat sessions to work together on a project. They can meet online at the onset of the project to discuss the assignment, determine a strategy for working together, divvy up the work, and brainstorm ideas. - Guest Speakers:
Invite a guest to your course chat session (an outside expert, another instructor, etc.), and tell your students to come prepared to ask the guest questions. This activity provides your students with information about real world experiences concerning the course subject matter. - Virtual Office Hours:
Set weekly times where you are available online so your students can contact you about the class. If you anticipate more than 5 students wanting to attend your virtual office hours, schedule time slots they can sign up for so the chat sessions don’t become crowded.
Monitoring Chat
- Be Prepared:
Good preparation and structure is critical to the success of your chat session. Some instructors use pre-typed questions or short comments that they cut and paste into the chat program from their word processor. - Limit the Number of Participants:
Schedule several sessions on the same topic, and have students sign up. Conducting small group chats is more manageable than chatting with a large group. Try to limit the small groups to 5-6 students. After each group’s session, post the transcripts to a Web page or your class asynchronous discussion forum so everyone can see all the conversations. Reading multiple versions of chat sessions on the same topic is a valuable study tool for some students. - Have Definite Starting and Ending Times:
Advertise your chat sessions well in advance so your students have time to arrange their schedules to be able to attend. This will also give them time to prepare for the discussion and think of 2 or 3 questions they would like to ask. Limit each session to 30 minutes, and cut it off when the time is up. Chatting is a high intensity activity, and it is difficult to stay focused for long periods. - Limit the Topic of Conversation:
Limit the chat session to one specific topic and stick to it. Students must come prepared to discuss one topic only. This lends structure to the discussion and helps the chat session stay focused. - Help Late Comers:
If one or two students join the chat session after it has started, take a moment to orient them to the discussion by summarizing the current thread of conversation. This will give everyone a break and allow stragglers to catch up. - Teach Chat Etiquette:
Publish a list of protocols or rules for your students to follow. This will help maintain order in the discussion and facilitate clear communication. There are many online guides on Netiquette as well