Environment: StFX's Learning Management System Moodle. Available at
moodle.stfx.caPurpose: The Chat activity allows course members to hold real-time, text-based conversations with other course members. Different chat rooms can be set up for the same course. For example, a course may have some chats where meeting times are scheduled, and others that are always available.
Chat sessions can also be logged for reference, with instructor control over who can see the logs.
Setting up a chat room
1. On your course page, click Turn editing on (top right).
2. At the lower-right of the "Topic" you would like to add a chat to, click + Add an activity or resource. The "Add an activity or resource" window will open.
3. Choose "Chat" in the window.
4. Name the Chat room (e.g. Assignment 1 discussion) and add any description you desire.
5. Modify chat settings -
"Next chat time" drop-down menu allows you to select a specific date and hour for students to meet.
"Repeat/publish session times" drop-down menu allows you to select whether and how often the chat will repeat. You can publish repeating session times daily or weekly, or not at all.
"Save past sessions" drop-down menu, select how long chat logs will be preserved in the archive. By default, this is set to Never delete messages.
To allow students to see past sessions, change "Everyone can view pas sessions" to "Yes". If you choose "No", then only instructors, and TAs can see past forums.
6. Under "Common module settings" you can assign the Chat activity to groups. To learn how to create groups, click here.
7. Save your work.
View session log
1. On your course page, click the link of the Chat activity. The Chat page opens, showing the description and a list of links.
2. Click "view past chat sessions". The Chat sessions page opens showing a list of sessions and participants with a count of how many messages each participant sent. The sessions are listed in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent session at the top of the list.
Note: If you see No complete sessions found, click List all Sessions.
3. To view a particular session, click "See this session". A log will open showing the messages between students.
4. To return to the Chat sessions page, click Continue.
Delete a chat session
1. On your course page, click the link of the Chat activity. The Chat page opens, showing the description and a list of links.
2. Click "view past chat sessions". The Chat sessions page opens showing a list of sessions and participants with a count of how many messages each participant sent. The sessions are listed in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent session at the top of the list.
Note: If you see No complete sessions found, click List all Sessions.
3. To view a particular session, click "Delete this session". A new page will open. Click continue.