Carolynn Heim

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Chat Rooms &

Discussion Boards

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Chat rooms and discussion boards are an everyday aspect of life.

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Overview of slides:•What is a chat room•Types of chat rooms•Discussion Boards•What is a discussion board•Chat rooms vs. discussion boards•Online learning•Things to consider•Conclusion•Web Resources•References

A chat room is a network where participants can engage in real-time discussions with one another (dictionary, 2012)Depending on the chat room. Many require you to have a user ID and a password.Who can participate in a chat room?

Anyone with an internet connection. Including:

College students, working adults, teenagers, etc.

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Themed chat rooms

These chat rooms will be labeled based on the interest of the participants. Including:

Movies, sports, books, art, school-based ideas, etc.

Teacher/Student chat rooms

These chat rooms are available for distance education. Including:

Springboard, blackboard, tutoring, or classroom conversation.

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Discussion boards usually start with a single question that people react too and then it branches to threads and sub-threads p. 88. It is important to Keep track of

where the discussion is going and to participate.5

They are also called bulletin boards, threaded discussions, and forums p 87.

It is an asynchronous activity. It does not occur at a particular time but is available when you have time to read and answer others p 87.

Boards may or may not be moderated, although in e-learning the former is usually the case p 88.

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Chat Rooms –GOOD Immediate feedbackMore people have experience Visual cues

Discussion Boards-GOODFits one’s own scheduleSense of communityAccessed anytime anywhere

Chat Rooms –BADScheudling ProblemsPassive learnersHarder to manage

Discussion Boards-BADLack visual cuesDelayed FeedbackCommunication effectiveness depends on reading and writing skills

7Globokar p 106-108

Many educational institutions use chat rooms as virtual classrooms for distance learners to communicate with their professors and peers Globokar p 12 . Does that seem familiar to

anyone ?.Discussion boards are forums where users (both professor and students) may post assignments, questions, case studies, or messages for class members to read and respond to asynchronously. The posted information is viewed by the entire class (Paul Gil website)

What about now ? Is this familiar yet ?

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Use emoticons occasionally Give other participants a

chance to respond and ask questions

Be professional Use sentences and keep

comments on the current topic

Introduce yourself Make sure your spelling is

correct

When communicating online whether in chat rooms or discussion boards it is important to

remember :

Don’t use CAPITAL LETTERS

Don’t use excess colors

• You not U

• Are not R

If comment isn’t timely, don’t make it

More than 5 lines is too long of post

Not everyone knows internet acronyms

Label joke as “joke” Make sure your

spelling is correct

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Contacts Via Email Tues-6/12/12

Wed-6/13/12

Sun 6/17/12

Mon-6/18/12

Tues-6/19/12Elluminate

Mon-6/18-12

Tues-6/19/12

Forums are very popular, and are renowned because they put you in touch with many similar-minded people. All synchronous and asynchronous messaging techniques have their pros and cons. It is best that you try them all and decide for yourself which messaging technique works for you. 

Chatting may be the most simple and preferred synchronous interaction.

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Dictionary.com. (2012).http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chat+room. Retrieved June 18, 2012 from dictionary. comFedosev, D,.(2012). The Different Types of Chat Rooms. Ezine Articles. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Different-Types-Of-Chat-Rooms&id=6616418. Retrieved June 18, 2012 from ezinearticles.comLittlefield, J,. (2012). How To Participate in an Online Class Chat Room Discussion. About. com. http://distancelearn.about.com/od/studyskills/ht/class_chat.htm. Retrieved June 18, 2012 from about.com

What is the Difference Between Email, IM, Discussion Forums, and Chat?

Gil, Paul 2012 http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/blogchatinstantmessaging/f/email_vs_im.htm

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Globokar (Lynn) Julie, April 28, 2010 Introduction to Online Learning: A Guide for Students. Sage Publications, Inc. Thousand Oaks, CA.

Piskurich, G,.(2004). Getting the Most from Online Learning. Chat Rooms and Discussion Boards. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer

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