chat


 * Chat **

toc On this first day we will basically deal with **chat**, a synchronous Web 2.0 communication tool that allows you to talk through text (through the keyboard) or voice (through a mic), and even add video (through a webcam) to see who you're talking to. It's a very useful tool to talk with students and colleagues, and very practical as well to chat with family and friends.

= What is chat? = In 2002, after a significant experience with chats, I defined **chat** as "a two-way form of computer-mediated communication (CMC), a dialogue in real time as we keyboard or speak our words, an online conversation between two or more people by means of a computer" (Almeida d'Eça, "To chat or not to chat in the EFL classroom").

Chat is a live, online conversation between two persons, but often with a group of people. In this case it's called a **conference** (group chat). Since it happens in real time, when a conference involves people from different time zones, there is a need for time management in advance. Arranging for a specific time that is suitable for (most) everybody is a 'must'. However, when the group spreads many and very distant time zones, such as [|Becoming a Webhead] (BaW) community, that isn't always possible. In this case, it's a "must" to **record** the audio part of the session, as well as the chatlog, so that both can be available for everyone to listen to and read. It's definitely "the next best thing" to being there live!

When chat takes place with a group of people, you need to "start a conference" and invite people in. To do this you need to have their IDs (Yahoo or Skype). They must "accept" the invitation before joining the conference. Remember that a conference is a private group and only invited guests are allowed in.

= Chat platforms =

Before registering on YM, you need to get a Yahoo ID at []


 * Yahoo Messenger (YM) **

We will use **Yahoo Messenger** as our demo chat platform. There's a tutorial in the "Tutorials" page. You will need to **[|download]** and install YM in your computer before using it. It's a simple process.


 * Skype **

We will also use **Skype**, much more common nowadays and very reliable. Scroll down and click "Instant Messaging" to read about the most common Skype features that you will use. And then **download** it.


 * Tapped In **


 * [|Tapped In]** is the "online workplace of an international community of education professionals. K-12 teachers, librarians, administrators, and professional development staff, as well as university faculty, students, and researchers gather here to learn, collaborate, share, and support one another".

Tapped In is **text-based chat** only, so it works very well for low-bandwidth connections. **[|Registration]** is simple.

These are some of the features you have access to as a member of TI:
 * a chatlog in your email box after every session you participate in
 * helpdesk service at least 12 hours a day to guide you in case of problems
 * a calendar with the events that take place almost every day of the year
 * a tour of Tapped In at least once a week
 * a virtual office where you can meet privately with colleagues and students

= Some uses of chat = **For the students**
 * practice the language they're learning with native and non-native colleagues
 * work in groups in the target language (while the teacher can monitor each group)
 * invite guest speakers to talk with your students about a specific topic
 * ask for and get timely, just-in-time help from a teacher or peer


 * For the teachers **
 * have online meetings with other fellow teachers
 * prepare work together with other teachers
 * prepare a joint presentation
 * ask for and get or give timely, just-in-time help to a peer

For more ideas, see this comprehensive **[|list of topics]** to explore created by Rita Zeinstejer.

= Workshop Activities =
 * live chats and demo of features at the three platforms with guest speakers to be announced //in loco// (Michael Coghlan from Australia, had a 5-minute audio conference with us)

Further exploration of each platform needs to be done by each of you either with a colleague or a group of colleagues.

=** Computer lab activities (suggestions) **=
 * Download Yahoo Messenger and/or Skype
 * Create a friends' list
 * Text chat with one friend **(i.e., invite Larisa and her YM lolesova**)
 * Start a conference and invite 3-4 friends to text chat
 * Have a voice chat with a friend and then in a group Think of ways to apply chat in your class/es
 * Brainstorm possible uses of chat with your EFL students Read one of the articles and take note of what helped you most; report back to the group in the following session
 * OR **
 * Work in groups of 4 in each
 * Assign one person to play a teacher's role and the rest of 3 to play students' role
 * The person playing the teacher's role needs to provide a space for chat in YM (start a conference)
 * Invite all students to chat with a teacher in YM
 * Prepare questions and/or topics to discuss with the students
 * Try text and voice chat
 * To try voice chat you may use computers from different rooms
 * Do not talk during text chat in lab
 * Keep notes about your experience as a teacher and students
 * Prepare feedback on the article the next day to share with others
 * Save archive of chat in YM - share your experience with Teresa in class the next day
 * You may demonstrate chat log from your computer to Teresa and other participants