Chat & Whiteboard Tool

Description:	In CE 6, you may have a chat room and whiteboard are integrated. New features available in the Chat and Whiteboard room include:   Handraise mode - It allows you to control participation. Slide Shows - It allows you to add slide shows to the Whiteboard. Mute - It allows you to temporarily disallow a student from participating. Deny Access - It allows you to deny a student access to a Chat room.
Who can do what?	Designers can create and edit chat and/or whiteboard rooms. Instructors can create and edit chat and/or whiteboard rooms. Students can access chat or whiteboard rooms.
Tip:	Click on the Stop Handraise Mode button before closing a chat room.
How To's:	Creating a Chat or Whiteboard room Editing a Chat or Whiteboard room Using a Chat or Whiteboard room

How to Create a Chat or Whiteboard Room

You need to add the ChatTool in the course menu. To add the Chat Tool, click on the Build Tab --> Designer Tools --> Manage Course --> Tools: check mark Chat and click 'Save.'   Under Course Tools, click Chat.   Click Create Chat or Whiteboard Room.   Enter a title and description for the room.   Select whether to show or hide the room.   Enter the maximum number of users that you want to allow access to the room at one time.   Select whether you want a chat only, whiteboard only, or combined chat/whiteboard room.   If course goals have been created, you can click Select Goals to associate goals with the room.   Expand More Options to select user permissions and room logging.   Click Save.

 

How to Edit a Chat or Whiteboard Room

Click on the ActionLinks menu of the chat room you have created.   Select Edit Properties.   Click Save after making the necessary changes.

 

How to Use a Chat or Whiteboard Room

From the Teach Tab, click on the ActionLinks menu of the chat room you have created.   Select Go to Chat Room. It will take a few seconds to load.   The Chat room loads after a few moments.     Sending Public Chat Messages - Place your cursor in the chat text area at the very bottom of the screen and type in your chat message. Click on the Enter button on the keyboard or click on the Send button in the chat interface. The message is sent and will appear in the chat dialog area. Sending Private Chat Messages- You may send a private chat message to any participant in a chat room if the instructor or designer has enabled it in the chat settings. Double click on the name of the person that you would like to send a private message to, from the participants list. That person's name is highlighted and a Private chat window opens. You may chat privately with the user until you select to close the Private Chat window.   Setting an Entry Chime- If you would like to be notified when a participant enters a chat room you may set an entry chime. Click on the Chime Preference button. The Chime Preference window opens. Select the Sound radio button.   Using Handraise Mode - Click on the Start Handraise mode button. The students will need to raise their hands to participate. Click on the student name from the active participant list that you would like to pass the microphone to. Their name is highlighted. Click on the Pass microphone / pen button. An icon appears next to the student's name. The student is allowed to type in a chat message. A message is also sent to all students to inform them that a selected student has the microphone.   Denying / Allowing Access - You can prevent students from participating in a chat or a whiteboard room by using the deny user access option. When a student is denied access they may not enter the chat or whiteboard room until you allow them access again.   Using the Muting Mode - You can temporally disallow a student from participating in a chat by using the mute option. Click on the name of the student you would like to mute from the participant list. The name will be highlighted. If you require more than one student name, use the control key (Ctrl) as you click on the names. The names are highlighted and the students will not be able to participate