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Chat sessions are synchronous online discussions
where participants communicate with the instructor and each other in real time.
WebCT, Blackboard and most common learning management
systems have live chat capabilities.
Chat sessions allow all participants to see and participate in the same live group discussion. Most chat software also allows private messaging between two or more participants. Private messages are side-bar discussions viewable only by the involved participants.
As we look at chat sessions, on this page we'll examine the following:
Advantages of chat sessions
Limitations of chat sessions
Compensating for these limitations
A significant advantage of chats is the finite time requirements for a chat session. Chat sessions have specific starting and ending times and are more like face-to-face discussions.
The live element in chats creates a sense of immediacy. An illusion of shared physical space is common among the participants.
Jeff Culbertson of the University of Idaho describes how live chats help participants develop a connection with the instructor.
Culbertson on using chats to develop connections (:38)
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Chat sessions support several instructional activities but are not as widely used as asynchronous discussion groups in distance education courses. Real time chats have several drawbacks that limit their usefulness.
A major challenge of chat sessions is scheduling. Learners
must assemble at the same time to participate in the live chat sessions. Such
time constraints reduce the flexibility of a distance education course.
Scheduling is more difficult when participants are located across multiple
time zones. Scheduling for international students can be an even greater
obstacle. Instructors may need to schedule chat sessions around the students'
schedules rather than at a time of their own convenience. Multiple chat
sessions may be needed to accommodate student schedules.
A second limitation of chat sessions is that they are impractical for delivering large amounts of course content. Exchanges in chat discussions are usually offered as one or two sentences at a time. These convey limited information.
Chat sessions favor people with quick thinking, good typing, and good writing skills. Participants who have poor typing and writing skills are at a significant disadvantage and may be unable to participate at the desired level.
Chat discussions can become disjointed and chaotic. It is difficult to control the sequence of postings or the rate of communication by the participants. Messages can be posted out of sequence creating multiple, overlapping discussions. This conversational disorder can be stressful for the instructor and for the participants.
Compensating for These Limitations
Group Size: Some limitations of chat sessions can be managed by controlling group size. Experienced distance educators agree that keeping group size small is essential for achieving successful chat discussions.
Appropriate group size for chat sessions varies depending on the purpose of the chat and the instructor's skills and preferences. Fifteen participants may be an appropriate number for a question and answer type activity such as reviewing course concepts. A smaller group of five or six members is recommended for very active discussions. Instructors with larger classes use multiple chat sessions to include all students.
Culbertson describes the good and the bad in dealing with stress in chat sessions.
Culbertson on chat stress (:41)
What is the instructor's role in chat sessions?
Destination 5: 11 of 18
