Using the Chat Room

Accessing a Chat Room and Sending Chat Messages

1. Click on the Chat link in the left hand Course Tool menu. The Chat screen displays.

2. Click on the chat room title to enter the chat room. A new window opens stating that the Chat is loading. Please wait as seen in figure 6-2.

Figure 6-2

The Chat room loads after a few moments. See figure 6-3.

3. Place your cursor in the chat text area at the very bottom of the screen and type in your chat message.

4. Click on the Enter button on the keyboard or click on the Send button in the chat interface. The message is sent and will appear in the chat dialog area. See figure 6-3.

Figure 6-3

The other participants may reply to your message. You will be able to read them when they appear and respond in the same way you responded in steps 3 and 4.

Sending Private Chat Messages

You may send a private chat message to any participant in a chat room if the instructor or designer has enabled it in the chat settings.

1. Click on the Chat link in the left hand Course Tool menu. The Chat screen displays.

2. Click on the chat room name you would like to access. A new window opens. A message appears stating that the chat room is loading. After a few minutes the Chat room displays.

3. Double click on the name of the person that you would like to send a private message to, from the participants list. That person's name is highlighted and a Private chat window opens as seen in figure 6-5.

Figure 6-4

Figure 6-5

4. Place your cursor in the chat dialogue box and type in the message you would like to send the person.

5. Click on the Enter button on the keyboard or Send button in the chat interface. The private message is sent.

You may chat privately with the user until you select to close the Private Chat window.

Sending a URL to the Chat Participants

You may send a link to a website to the chat participants. This link will open in a new window and the participants will be able to navigate in this website.

1. Click on the Chat link from the Course Tool menu. The Chat screen displays.

2. Click on the chat room name you would like to access. A window opens stating that the chat screen is loading. After a few minutes the Chat room displays.

3. Place your cursor in the chat text area and type in the URL or website that you would like participants to access. You must type in the full Internet address.

4. Click on the Enter button on the keyboard or the Send button in the chat interface. The link is sent and will be displayed in the chat dialogue area. If the participants click on the link from the chat dialogue area, a new window will open with that website displaying. See figure 6-6.

Figure 6-6

Setting a Chime Preference

If you would like to be notified when a participant enters a chat room you may set an entry chime.

You may choose to be notified via the following options:

• a sound
• a flashing screen
• a flashing screen as well as a sound

This option is useful if you are waiting in a chat room for participants and the chat room is minimised. Whenever a person enters the chat room you will be notified.

1. Click on the Chat link from the Course Tool menu. The Chat screen displays.

2. Click on the chat room name you would like to access. A window opens stating that the chat screen is loading. After a few minutes a new window opens with the Chat room displaying.
3. Click on the ChimePreference button. The Chimes Preference window opens. See figure 6-7.

Figure 6-7

4. Select the Sound radio button if you would like the chime to be a sound.

Or

5. Select the Flashing screen radio button if you would like the chime to be a flashing screen.

Or

6. Select the Flashing screen and sound radio button if you would like the chime to be a sound as well as a flashing screen.

Or

7. Select the None radio button if you would like no chime at all.