Module 2 Lecture: Text-Based Chat

Most people are familiar with the chat environment. Thanks to tools such as AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger, and ICQ, we are allowed to log on to our computers and be connected with family and friends instantly. No phone, no long distance bill, no problem.

Along with these more recreational tools, communities now offer chat rooms where multiple users are able to hold text-based discussions surrounding specific topics. In this environment, the chatroom is open 24/7 and discussions are ongoing and rapidly changing as people enter and leave at will.

Online educators often include some of these more informal chats in their classrooms for activities such as virtual office hours and ice-breaker sessions. However, they also conduct more structured chat activities where discussions are moderated, held on a specific date and time, and have predetermined goals and objectives. As you can imagine, these activities require a commitment from both the instructor and student. The instructor must understand the tool in which he/she chooses to implement and have the ability to appropriately facilitate each session so that the goals and objectives are met, interaction and collaboration amongst attendees occurs, and each session directly supports the course objectives. The student, on the other hand, must commit to attending at a given time and be willing to actively participate in the session.

In this module we will look at the text-based synchronous classroom. We will discuss appropriate uses of this method of teaching, and we will identify characteristics of the successful online facilitator, as well as course management issues.

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