Online chatting and conferencing are approaches for synchronous communication amongst teachers and students. Some learning management systems have built-in text-based and/or video-based chatting and conferencing facilities. Instant messaging software also enable teachers to  organise online chatting and conferencing sessions. You might use online chats and/or conferences in a learning sequence for many reasons. Some options include:

• have scheduled, structured chat and conference sessions which address specific topics
• have regular chat and conference sessions for problem solving, asking the teacher or trainer for help
• allow learners to arrange chat sessions for dealing with teamwork issues and collaboration on assessment tasks and projects
• invite a guest speaker to join the chat and conference room and have learners prepare by reading an article by the guest)
• encourage learners to use chat and conferencefor socialisation and the development of a learning community.

In online chat and conference sessions, participants are all online at the same time - real time (often called synchronous communication). The teachers can provide immediate feedback and advice for problem solving. Some chat spaces allow for anonymity. Most systems allow for the chat and conference to be recorded and a transcript can then be placed on the web site for participants and others to read later.

Links to Resources

Chatting Tools

$=cost; C =add code to web page/blog etc; D =download;  H = hosted service;  OS = Open source; FT=free trial

Live2Support	Chat live with your web site visitors	$	D	FT
Live Chat	Live Chat software at your website double your leads and ensures conversion rate	$	C
LiveChatNow	Live Help & Live Support would add great value to your products and services	$	D	FT
LiveHuman	Live chat/support software for your website	$	D	FT
LivePerson	Live chat solution	$	C	FT
PHP Free Chat	Simple to install, fast, customizable and multi languages chat that uses a simple filesystem for message and nickname storage	Free	H
Planet MiniBox	Advanced Web 2.0 Tagboard/ Shoutbox (Standard/fee and Premium/paid for versions)	Free/$	C
Provide Support	Cost effective way to chat with your website visitors online	$	D	FT
Quick chat	Javascript code to create a chat room	Free	C
RealChat	To get people chatting on your website	$	D	FT
Shoutmix	Easy to use messaging system for your website/blog that allows you to interact with others instantly	Free	C
Skabble	Connects you with people who are browsing similar websites and share your interests.	Free	D
tinbag	Set up a web-based help desk	Free	H
TinyChat	Create a free chat room	Free	H
Tokbox	Video chat with anyone, anywhere on any website	Free	C
Userplane	Application suite of web apps of communication software (free packages available)	Free	H
Xpanity	IE add-on to let you chat on every web page	Free	D
YackPack	Communication and collaboration tool	Free	H
Yaplet	Chat with others through any website	Free	C
YellBox	Instant feedback from visitors you would not hear otherwise.	Free	C
userplane Webchat	Application that enables real-time text messaging and streaming audio/video communication for any website	$	H
Volano Chat	Used by millions of chatters each month on thousands of Web sites around the world for community building	$	D	FT
Webby Chat	Turn your entire website into a chat room	Free	H
Whos On	Watch your web site visitor activity in real time	$	D	FT
ZaZaChat	Live chat software	$	D	FT
Zoho Chat	Instant messaging and group chatting	Free	H

Video Conferencing Tools

• MegaMeeting: When it comes to browse-based video conference tools, this is the market leader. MegaMeeting is 100% browser-based, you install no software at all. That doesn’t mean it is lightweight no, on the contrary MegaMeeting is extremely well endowed with all the features you would expect or need: indeed MegaMeeting is a worthy alternative to WebEx and other business-targeted video conference apps. It can run on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux so no matter who you want to have participating in the conference, MegaMeeting will work. MegaMeeting also has integrated VoIP, application and screen sharing, remote desktop control and PowerPoint presentation capabilities. There can be up to 16 participants, but MegaMeeting also allows an unlimited number of observers. Versions are available for personal use, SMBs and large enterprises.
• Zoho Meeting: When it comes to browser-based office suites, Zoho is where it’s at. Yes, Google and Microsoft want a slice of the pie, but Zoho is really good. With Zoho Meeting it is easy to setup a conference, share your screen or make a presentation. Perhaps one of the best features is that this product integrates very well with the rest of the Zoho suite of applications. Skype is also integrated with Zoho Meeting, allowing you to discuss while presenting documents. Zoho Meeting can be used on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
• MeBeam: MeBeam offers online video meeting rooms that are simple to setup and join. It is more of a consumer oriented tool and isn’t really targeted at the full-blood business market, so don’t expect most of the features present in MegaMeeting. However, if you just want to quickly setup a room where friends of staff can congregate for a meeting, MeBeam is worth a look.
• Meebo: While it is most widely known as a browser-based IM client, Meebo can also do video chat. Initially Meebo only did one-to-one video chat but then integrated TokBox (more details below) and can now handle a video conference with up to 6 contacts from any IM network. It’s free, it’s easy, requires very little effort and is reliable. Meebo is a pretty good option.
• TokBox: This is Web 2.0 video conferencing at its best with a social twist. TokBox are funded by the same VCs who invested in YouTube. It is completely browser-based and the player can actually be embedded into any page, including blogs and social network profiles. What’s particularly good about TokBox is that you can record video messages which can be delivered should the other party not be there. TokBox can and does provide multi-party video conferencing; you can either use the “Conference” link to get a persistent conference room, or you can just dial in more people when you’re in a one-on-one call to add more people on-the-fly.
• Confabio: This relatively new browser-based web conference tool is really simple to use. To get a conference up and running all you need to do is plug in your camera, give your meeting room a name and start your meeting. It’s simple for others to join too, just give them your meeting room URL. There is an upcoming premium version with more features including your own subdomain, voice only participants, access control and higher quality AV for a reasonable monthly fee.
• PalBee: This is a relatively new entrant to the browser-based web conference sector, but it does exactly what it says on the tin. You can conference with up to 5 others simultaneously for up to one hour per session on either Windows or Mac OS X. PalBee also has an online whiteboard to drawing and sharing ideas. Interestingly, you can actually record a video conference and play it back later. Conferences can be made public or kept private. PalBee also have a little widget allowing you to embed recorded conferences on your blog or page.
• Oovoo: ooVoo is a video-conferencing software available for Windows and Mac. After a quick registration, you are able to communicate with people through text-chat, video-audio conference (up to six people) and also to record video messages. You can also share up to 20 files at once to as many contacts as you want, up to 25 MB per file. Still in beta, it is free to download and use.
  
• VSee: VSee is a free videoconferencing and application sharing service, and it allows you to talk with multiple people on your computer. You can remotely edit and annotate documents, share applications and desktops, transfer files, record and share videos, pan, tilt, and zoom remote cameras. Vsee is free to use for an unlimited number of people.
  
• SightSpeed:SightSpeed is a cross-platform videoconferencing system that is light, performing and cheap. You can use it to have video calls with up to 9 people, text-chat with them, share files, record your sessions and send video messages. Free for two people, or $9.95/month for 4 people and unlimited video storage. Also, a new web based version of the program is available.
  
• PalBee.com: PalBee.com is a video conferencing system, that has just launched a new version of the product. It lets you set up video meetings with up to 10 people, who can all whiteboard, upload PowerPoint presentations, record for one hour anything that happens in the conference and publish it as a video on YouTube. The service is completely free to use.
  
• MeBeam: MeBeam is an easy-to-use Flash-based video conferencing tool that you can use to have video calls with people without having to install anything on your machine. To start a video conference, you just have to type a name for your room, share it with your friends, and click connect. It is completely web-based and free to use with no registration needed.
• Vidivic: Vidivic is a video conferencing solution which allows you to hold online meetings using a webcam and a pc connected to the Internet. After a free registration, your are able to create meetings up to 4 hours with 9 participants at once, where you can see, talk and chat with each other. Currently in beta phase, it is completely free to sign up and use.
  
• FlashMeeting: FlashMeeting is a video conferencing application based on the Adobe Flash 'plug in' and Flash Media Server. Running in a standard web browser window, it allows a group of people to meet from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Meetings are pre-booked by a registered user who just needs to share a URL. Users are provided with video and audio conferencing, along with the ability to perform web tours.
  
• MegaMeeting: MegaMeeting, a web based video conferencing software. MegaMeeting requires no downloading: all you need is an internet browser, a broadband internet connection and a web camera or digital video camera. Up to 16 individuals can be seen at the same time, and an unlimited number of additional secure Video Conferencing attendees can see those 16.
  
• WengoMeeting: Wengomeeting is a flash web-based service that allows you to video conferencing meetings without any software to download. You just need to register, add your colleagues email address and automatically your webconferencing room is created. A conference can have up to 5 users. Free.
  
• EkkoTV: EkkoTV is a free Flash-based service that you can use to have video conferences online with other two people. Without even register, you can just enter your name and a new room will be created: then you just spread the URL and wait for your friends to join you. EkkoTV is completely web-based and free to use.
  
• Vawkr: Vawkr is a video conferencing chat service that allows you to get your own video chat room and talk with anyone. After you register to the service and create your own room, you can invite other people to join in simply by sending them your room's URL. The only available controls are the volume and microphone adjustment. The service is completely web-based and free to use.
  

Ideas and Tips for Using Online Chat and Conference

Strategies for using chat as a communication tool: To conduct a useful learning experience, especially in an online course, it is important to have a focused chat. That is, one that focuses on a specific topic of discussion so that it is easier to keep some order to the chat. In some chat programs, you can even save all or just a portion of chat sessions for future use. This feature could be used to post to a class discussion area so that students not able to attend the live chat can read others' postings and not feel left out. Follow the links in this webpage to learn more about some practical uses of chat.

The Art of Hosting Good Conversations Online: Tips about what an online host wants to achieve, good online discussions, the role of the host, what a host does, what a host tries to grow, host behavior.

Facilitating and hosting a virtual community: The online facilitator can be the convenor, online community owner, or someone designated by the community owner.

Eight Ways to Get Students More Engaged in Online Conferences: Require participation, Form learning teams, Make the activity interesting, Don't settle for just opinions, Structure the activity, Require a hand-in assignment, Know what you are looking for and involve yourself to help make it happen, and Peer grading.

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