[Oz-teachers] Running a Good Chat

[Janine Bowes]

Hi Margot, Adrian and others

Margot's point about having a focus topic is really important.

In addition to having a focus or clear purpose, there are lots of ways of
managing chat rooms, depending on the desired outcomes. Which technique one
uses depends on purpose, number in the group and available time. Some
examples:

1. Run the chat as a formal meeting with a chair person and agreed protocols
- these need to be worked out ahead of time

2. I worked with a distributed group (adult learners) last year who were
unfamiliar with chat. Their context was learning to use a range of tools
that could be used for online learning (in this case using WebCT). The group
were involved in a workbased learning project with individual and group
goals. Learning to effectively use chat was a common goal. 

- agreed to a weekly one hour chat - not everyone could make it but it was
always on
- the facilitator (me) sent an email reminder the day before setting up the
focus activity for the day and any relevant housekeeping info eg the first
10 minutes was socialising then into the task

The focus of the sessions went something like this

Week 1 - learning the features of the chat software by using some ice
breaker activities 

Weeks 2-4 - using some structured techniques to discuss/explore various
issues. The meeting metaphor was one technique. Another was to have a
stimulus question, all respond as individuals, lots of simultaneous
conversations, halt after 10 minutes and everyone stop typing to give
reading time. Facilitator summarises then we move onto the next key point.

Over time the chat room became a meeting place from where we might go off to
other places (web discussion/ websites of interest) and gather back for
debrief at the end, with the chat room "staffed" in case anyone needed help
with the task. The debrief sessions were really important both in terms of
reflecting on the topic and in terms of reflecting on the process.

We also adopted the habit of posting an edited transcript of the chat as a
resource for the group, particularly those who could not attend. Again
reflecting on the cost/benefit of this (it IS time consuming to do the
editing properly ie remove the social stuff and repack the conversation
synthetically, but for substantive conversations it is well worth it - the
learners can undertake this role)

A surprising thing to me was that the group actually came to really value
the weekly sessions, it built a sense of community and was a very practical
way to get some of the project work done. One male particpant really
developed in terms of being able to multitask, switching between chat and
forum screens etc. 

3. A chat room can be organised to do some thinking exercises such as De
Bono's hats

This post is getting too long - others will have ideas too.  Some more "good
chat" info

Creating an 'on-line Community - Using Chat
http://learnscope.flexiblelearning.net.au/LearnScope/resources.asp?Category=
19&DocumentId=5558

Netiquette and Chatiquette
http://learnscope.flexiblelearning.net.au/LearnScope/golearn.asp?Category=12
&DocumentId=4183

Strategies for Effective Use of Chat: When, Why, and How to Make It Work
http://168.144.129.112/Articles/Strategies%20for%20Effective%20Use%20of%20Ch
at--When,%20Why,%20and%20How%20to%20Make%20It%20Work.rtf

Cheers
Janine


> -----Original Message-----
> From: oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au 
> [mailto:oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au] On Behalf Of 
> Margo Metcalf
> Sent: Tuesday, 4 May 2004 8:05 AM
> To: Adrian; Oz Teachers
> Subject: RE: [Oz-teachers] Running a GOod CHat
> 
> 
> HI Adrian
> 
> A lot of the "old" chat rooms were based on topics of 
> interest and therefore the conversations were more relevant 
> with a lot of experience, history and information shared. 
> Perhaps you could choose a current topic or theme that may be 
> of interest to the group and discuss how this affects each 
> individual (on both sides of the planet). I find if the chat 
> conversations are focused they become much more relevant, 
> interesting and worthwhile instead of just "hows the weather".
> 
> Cheers
> Margo
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Adrian [mailto:hey_ad at yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, 4 May 2004 6:38 AM
> To: Oz Teachers
> Subject: [Oz-teachers] Running a GOod CHat
> 
> 
> Hi Guys,
> 
> During the GVC project we had a couple of real time
> chats with our partner teams and the kids really loved
> them. Myself however felt them a little shallow - fav
> sport - fav TV - time - weather etc.
> 
> Now that we are over that, how would you conduct this
> next session?
> 
> The session is sort of a get together to congratulate
> each other and it's the last chance to chat before
> their Spring Break.
> 
> Schools - Byron Community and Gulfport Mississippi.
> Ages - Yr 3/4 and 4/5
> Software - Tapped In
> 
> cheers
> 
> adrian
> http://gvc03c32.virtualclassroom.org/
> 
> 
> 	
> 		
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