Online Chat Room Etiquette (Netiquette)

In this course you will be required to use synchronous chats (live chat). That is, you will “meet” as a group in real time to hold discussions. In this chat room you will use text rather than voice.

"Live" chat as an instructional tool can be difficult especially when there are more than five persons participating in the chat because multiple strands of discussion often occur thus making the discussion more challenging to follow. Chat protocol is one way in which a moderator can use a chat room for instructionally structured discussions.

Protocols are really just rules that all participants in a chat room agree to abide by. By following the protocols, a moderator (the instructor or a group leader in our case) is usually able to guide the discussion and engage in a question/answer process.

Two types of chat rooms are available to you in this course: (1) The General Chat Room where you meet with any student in the course and/or any of the instructors/facilitators; and (2) Work Group Chat Rooms where you may meet with one or more of your colleagues in your group and/or your group instructor.

Types of activities characteristic of chat rooms:

Your choice of chats as a tool for communicating online will be based primarily on the nature of the activity being pursued. Decision to use the chat room will be based on the following characteristics of the activities:

·               brainstorming particular topics or ideas for development elsewhere

·               coordination of small group work, such as preparation for a project

·               debriefing by instructors of students to get feedback following group planning or at the end of a course/project

·               as adjunct to other means of communication, such as organizing peer review session, clarifying an earlier exchange of emails

How do I "talk" in the chat room?

To talk in the chat room you simply type your message in the "Text" box. Then use the "ENTER" key on your keyboard or the icon for send. Your text will move to the window above the text box where all persons in the chat room will be able to see your message. Do not type in capital or boldface letters, as this is considered yelling in the online world.

How do I indicate I am leaving the chat room but will return?

The proper way to indicate you have to leave the room for a short while but will return is to use the following symbol >. On returning use the symbol  <

Roles in the Chat Room

Roles in the chat room are temporary in that they may change from one chat room to another. There are four defined roles that an occupant may have:

1. Moderator - A moderator is the most powerful occupant within the room.
2. Participant - A participant has fewer privileges than a moderator, although he or she always has the right to speak.
3. Visitor - A visitor has a more restricted role within the context of a moderated room, since visitors are there for a limited time and a specific purpose.
4. None (the absence of a role)

Chat Room Structures

In this course we will use two types of chat structures – moderated discussion; and free-form chat.

Moderated Discussion

This approach is usually used when there is a specific topic(s) to discuss. The prime characteristic is use of a moderator or someone who sets the tone for the chat, keeps the chat on topic, and recognizes question and/or statement requests by participants. In this form of chat, the moderator may start the discussion and then allow other participants to "have the floor." Protocols are extremely important for this form of chat because it is the passing of the "floor" from participant to participant that actually provides the momentum (and ultimately the substance) to the chat and not the moderator.

Free-Form Chat  

This form of chat is basically a "free-for-all" with people typing back and forth to each other in chat. This type of structure is suitable for introductions and getting to know one another. There isn't any moderator or facilitator and there isn't any set topic for the discussion. However, this form of chat can still benefit from some of the protocols outlined below in that people won't type over each other and hence threads of discussion will be easier to follow.

NB: Both chat structures can be combined in various ways to make the discussions in a chat environment more dynamic.

Protocols for Synchronous Chats.

The following symbols will be used in the chat room. These symbols and guidelines will help to make the chat session flow smoothly and help the synchronous chat process. For a moderated chat session please learn these simple commands prior to participation in the chat room. These protocols are applicable for any type of chat structure used:

Symbols

The following symbols should be placed immediately after a statement or question or they can be entered on their own line. It is generally accepted practice to use these symbols even when someone is talking or has the floor because they are, for the most part, unobtrusive and don't break up a person's postings in the chat.

Me                   signifies a "hand raised" and that you wish to answer the

                        question sent to chat room. More than one member may send

                        the "me" word to the chat room, but the moderator will call on participants

in order of that posting. All participants use this command when they wish to chat and wait to be called upon.

#                      signifies you're done asking a question or making a statement to let everyone know that you are through. It can be placed at the end of your statement.

ga                    signifies  "go ahead" - this means the moderator gives permission to ‘speak’. 

&                     you want to request the "floor" from someone to make a related point as your contribution to the same question. 

?                      signifies that something is not clear and you need clarification.

>                      you have stepped away from your computer for a moment

<                      you have returned to your computer

 All                   signifies that all may answer in any order. All participants may

                        then send their answer to the chat room. NB: This can become confusing.

Guidelines

1.         When entering the chat, don't say hello to each other. The chat system shows all persons in chat room. It can be assumed that when someone enters chat the thought is there on everyone's mind to say hello. This will cut down on chat-message run-on.

     2.          Unless you have the floor, don't "say" anything but rather, ask to be recognized by the person who does have the floor by posting the appropriate symbol. Either the moderator or the person who has the "floor" in the free-form chat room will recognize you. Using a symbol is unobtrusive and will let everyone know that you have a statement or question to make.

     3.          If you want the "floor", just ask by using the appropriate symbol.

     4.          When you are finished talking, end your last sentence with a # symbol.

     5.          If you specifically want to ask a question of someone or address them, type their name followed by a question sign (?) and then the message. This is especially good in a free-for-all discussion and can help people keep the different strands of conversation straight.

In Kewl New Gen your chat session is automatically saved. You may retrieve transcripts of

the chat by clicking on the middle icon below the text box [insert the image here]

Information for this section was modified from the following sources

Jill Nash – Online Chat Etequette http://ga.essortment.com/chatroomsetiqu_rixx.htm

Jeanie Olson - Online Chat Protocol http://sunny.crk.umn.edu/courses/itc/itc510/Chat_Protocol.htm

Paul Giguere – Synchronous Chat Protocols

http://www.sreb.org/programs/EdTech/MOPD/Chat_Protocol.pdf