Chat is an often unfairly maligned feature in Zoom and Meet. Many instructors worry that they will lose control of the class discussion if they allow students to use the chat during an audio/video/in-person class discussion.
However, chat should definitely not be dismissed as a “distraction”.
First of all, chat is a wonderful tool to promote inclusion. It can provide a comfortable participation option for students who would otherwise feel reluctant to join the audio/visual/in-person conversation (hello to all my fellow introverts out there). It can also facilitate participation by students who are dealing with technological constraints or who are participating remotely from a place with a lot of background noise.
Even better, Zoom chat can be leveraged as a way to enhance everyone’s participation.
Below you’ll find some effective techniques for using chat and instructions for how to adjust the settings in Zoom to make “chat” best serve your individual pedagogical aims.
This series of posts covers three basic topics relating to chat:
Ways to Use Chat as a “Side Channel” or “Back Channel”
Ways to Use Chat to Encourage, Ensure, and Grade Participation
Ways to Use Chat to Facilitate Classroom Logistics