Google Chat

Google Chat allows you to chat (instant message) or switch to a video or audio conversation. To use it you need to sign in with a Google account.

As a college, all members of staff, and all students are already accessible, all you need to do is start to type a few letters of a name and the system will locate them, and you can click to communicate...


  1. On your computer, go to hangouts.google.com or open Chat from within Gmail. Or download the app on your mobile device.
  2. Enter your Google Account information.

Google Guidance...

Access via the Google Grid

Groups v Rooms

Groups are ad hoc, so if you don't just it regularly if will disappear from view, you need to make sure you use it.

Once you've used a group you can either scroll down to find it, or if you remember the name of anyone in the group you can search for them, and they will appear along with any groups they are in...

A Room is static/fixed, so once you've made it it will stay there unless you delete it or leave it. This is much more useful for use with an entire class or team.

Sanity Saving Tips

Disable Gmail Integration

Trying to juggle a load of Google Chat messages on your laptop in the same space as your email is definitely a recipe for an aneurism, so take my advice and sign out from Google Chat within your email window, (this only affects Gmail—you're still connected to Google Chat) and rely on managing Chat in a dedicated tab/window or app on your phone/iPad.

Mute Notifications

Last but definitely not least, remember to mute notifications, especially when you want to have a break, or a day off! Also while you're actually in responding to chat messages, the constant *dings* are just unnecessary and annoying.

Click where it says Active, and choose a period of time to mute notifications, or if you want to go the whole hog, click Notification Settings and disable sounds completely....