Chat Rooms

• The chat room in WebCT is a place where people can talk to each other in real time (everyone has to be there at the same time).
  
• There are six different chat rooms in each WebCT course.
  

• Please Note: The chat rooms are recorded. This means that a log is kept of everything that is said in the chat room.

• Your instructor can go back and read the conversation that occurred in the chat rooms even after everyone has logged off.
  
• To get into a chat room, click on the name of the room you want to enter.
  

The Chat Dialogue Box

• Once inside a chat room a new window will open on your computer.
  
• The chat dialogue box has four main sections; the “Conversation Text Box”, “Current Users”, “Message area and the “Quit” area.
  

Current Users

• On the right hand side of the chat room dialogue box is the “Current Users” area.
  
• This area will tell you who is currently logged in to that chat room.
  
• Remember, this is a live chat. Unless the persons name is on the list, you cannot talk to them.

Reading Chat Messages

• The large box on the left hand side is where your sent messages, and those of others, will appear.
  
• Everyone who is in the chat room at that time can read the messages you send.
  
• The name of the sender appears just before the message they sent is displayed.
  
• Notice the scroll bar on the right hand side of the dialogue box. This allows you to scroll up and down to reread conversations.
  
• Remember, there is a log kept of everything that is said in the chat room.
  

Sending a Message

• The long white box at the bottom of the chat window is where you enter any message you would like to send.
  
• After you have typed in your message, press the “Enter,” or the “Return,” key on your keyboard to send the message.
  

Exiting the Chat Room

• The last area of the chat room has three features, “Entry Chime,” “Send URL,” and “Quit.”
  
  • If the “Entry Chime” feature is selected your computer will chime every time a new person enters the chat room.
    
  • The “Send URL” feature allows you to send a website address to everyone in the chat room.
    
  • The “Quit” button will let you exit the chat room.