Home > Blackboard > For Faculty and Staff > Communication > Lightweight Chat
Chat
The Chat allows the users to interact with each other via a text-based chat. Chat is part of the Virtual Classroom. It can also be accessed separately.
- Click Communication on the Course Menu.
- Select Collaboration Tools.
- Click Join to next to a Chat session.
To enter a message for the class to read
- Type the message in the Compose field.
- Click Send.
- The message will appear in the chat area.
- NOTE: There 1000 character limit for chat messages.
To become an Active user
- Click the Hand symbol.
- A hand appears next to the Username.
- The Session Admin clicks on the hand to make the user Active.
To view user information
- Select a Username in the Participant list and then click User Info.
To send a private message to a user
- Select a Username in the Participant list and then click Private Message.
Participant List
View Button - Clicking the view button opens the Session Options box. In the Session Options box you can choose to display private messages inline or in a separate frame.
Controls - Clicking the Controls button opens the Session Controls box which allows you to set access rights for the participants.
Clear - Clicking the clear button will wipe the chat clean. As an instructor, you can choose to wipe your own chat window clean or everyone's.
End - Ends the session and ejects all participants from the chat.
Recording buttons- You can archive your chat by using the recording buttons.
User Info- To get more information on a participant, click the person's name in the list of participants and then click the User Info button. A box displaying additional information will appear.
Private Message- To send a private message to one or more participants, select the participant's name and click the Private Message button.
Activate/Deactivate Users- You can activate or deactivate a person's ability to submit messages to the chat by selecting his or her name and clicking on the activate or deactivate buttons.
Compose- To contribute to the chat, enter your message into the Compose box and press enter.