Desire2Learn

Working with Chats

Chats enable students and instructors to interact with each other in real time. There are two types of chats: personal and general. Personal chats allow the creator to restrict participants, whereas general chats are open to all class members. Both students and instructors can create personal chats; however, only instructors can create general chats. For additional options available, refer to Chat Options.

• Types of Chats
• Creating a Chat
• The Chat Environment
• Participating in a Chat

Types of Chats

Personal Chats

Personal chats, which can be created by students or instructors, are used for group conversations or working with peers in real time. Instructors have the option of making a personal chat persistent, meaning that it will not expire and the chat contents will be archived. If this option is not chosen, the chat will be deleted after twenty minutes of inactivity and not archived in Desire2Learn. The creator of the chat can add only members he/she chooses; members not added to the chat cannot join the chat room. Chat members can be classmates or anyone who is a D2L user.

General Chats

General chats, which can be created only by instructors, can be used for conversations that are relevant to all members of the course. General chats do not expire.

Creating a Chat

Both instructors and students can create chats enabling real-time (synchronous) interaction between classmates discussing topics relevant to coursework and responding to other comments posted to that chat.

NOTE: In order for the Chat tool to be accessible, be sure there is a link to it on the Navigation bar.

Creating a Personal Chat

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click CHAT.
   The Available Chats dialog box appears.

2. Click CREATE CHAT.
   The Create Chat dialog box appears.

3. Select Personal Chat.

4. Click NEXT.
   The Create Personal Chat dialog box appears.
   
   

5. In the Chat Title text box, type the desired title for your chat.

6. Faculty only: To create a chat that will not expire, select Persistent.
   NOTE: If this option is not selected, the chat will be deleted from Desire2Learn after twenty minutes of inactivity and will not be archived.

7. OPTIONAL: In the Description scroll box, type a short description for your chat.

8. Click NEXT.
   The Participant List dialog box appears.

9. To add participants to your chat, click ADD.
   The Add Chat Participant(s) dialog box appears.
   
   

10. If you know the username of the person you want to add,
    1. Select Add Someone You Know.
    2. In the Enter Username of the Friend you wish to add text box, type the appropriate Desire2Learn username.
    3. Click ADD.
    4. Repeat steps b-c for each user you want to add.
    5. When all users have been added, in the upper right corner of the dialog box, click the X.
       
       
11. To add a student or instructor from your course,
    1. Select Add Classmate(s).
    2. From the Choose a class to select friends from pull-down list, select the desired course.
       Members of the course appear.
    3. Select the users you wish to participate in your chat.
       HINT: A user is selected if a checkmark appears in the checkbox next to their username.
    4. When all users have been added, click ADD.
    5. In the upper right corner of the dialog box, click the X.
       
       
12. To enter the new chat, click ENTER CHAT.
    The chat window appears.

Creating a General Chat

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click CHAT.
   The Available Chats dialog box appears.

2. Click CREATE CHAT.
   The Create Chat dialog box appears.

3. Select General Chat.

4. Click NEXT.
   The Create General Chat dialog box appears.

5. In the Chat Title text box, type the desired title for your chat.

6. OPTIONAL: In the Description scroll box, type a short description for your chat.

7. Click CREATE.
   You are returned to the Available Chats dialog box.

The Chat Environment

Once you have entered a chat, you will notice three frames: the Participants pane, the Chat pane, and the Add Message text box. This section explains the purpose of these frames and the available buttons in the chat.

Item	Description
Participants Pane	Lists the current participants in the chat
Chat Pane	Displays recent messages added to the chat
Add Message text box	Enables users to add messages to the chat by typing in this text box and clicking ADD
ADD button	Submits user messages to the chat
Chat pull-down list	Enables users to navigate between chats
REFRESH CHAT TEXT	Reloads the chat, displaying any new messages
PRINTABLE VIEW OF THIS CHAT	Displays a printer-friendly version of the chat's information and Chat pane
CHANGE YOUR CHAT USER IDENTITY	Allows users to change the format and color of chat usernames
Lines text box	Dictates how many lines of text will be displayed in the Chat pane
CHANGE button	Submits a change in the Lines text box
EXIT CHAT button	Exits the chat

Participating in a Chat

Participating in a Chat: Entering and Exiting the Chat Room

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click CHAT.
   The Available Chats dialog box appears.

2. Click the name of the chat you wish to enter.
   The chat window appears.

3. At the bottom of the page, in the Add Message text box, type a message.

4. Click ADD.
   Your message is added to the chat.

5. To leave the chat, click EXIT CHAT.
   You are returned to the Available Chats dialog box.

Participating in a Chat: Changing Your Chat Identity

This option allows you to change the font style and color of your name in the chat.

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click CHAT.
   The Available Chats dialog box appears.
   
   
2. Click the name of the chat you wish to enter.
   The chat window appears.
   
   
3. Click CHANGE YOUR CHAT USER IDENTITY..
   The Edit Your Chat Identity dialog box appears.
   
   
4. Use the checkboxes and pull-down list to make the desired changes.
   
   
5. When you have made the desired changes, click SUBMIT.
   The Edit Your Chat Identity dialog box refreshes and displays the message: Chat Identity Successfully Changed!
   NOTE: If the identity you selected has already been chosen by another user, a message alert appears.
   
   
6. When finished, click CLOSE.
   Your chat identity is changed.