Making the most of Online Chat

Making the Most of Online Chat Sessions

As an Online student chat sessions will undoubtedly form part of your e-learning experience. Although it is called “chatting” you won’t actually be hearing your fellow students voices though; instead you will be logged onto a web page where you type out what you want to say and others respond with their own views and comments, all in real time. If you haven’t had much experience in Online chatting, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of it.

Get Comfortable

• familiarize yourself with the log in process and the screen layout
• spend a little time “lurking” (i.e. reading what other people have written before contributing yourself) to get an idea of the length, subject and tone of other people’s comments.
• try to use a computer that has a fast Internet connection; too slow, and your comments will appear out of sequence
• practice your typing to get the speed up (especially if you still use two-fingers)

Be Prepared

• do your research and read all the preparatory material so that your chat comments are properly informed
• have everything you expect to need during the chat session on your desk before it starts, from notes and questions to drinks and snacks.

Learn and Obey the Chat Session Code of Conduct

This means being aware of things like common abbreviations, when and how to use emoticons, keeping your comments on-topic, courtesy, and using humor appropriately. Much of this can be researched beforehand, but the more you participate in chat sessions the more familiar you will become with the particular etiquette (or “netiquette”) they demand.

Source: Charles Sturt University

Other Student Resources

Online Discussion Postings

Avoid Plagiarism

Making the Most of Online Chat Sessions

Avoid Isolation

Be Effective Within Virtual Workgroups

Researching Online