Tech Thursday: An "Emergency" Chat Alternative
A free & easy-to-use web-based chat program - one possible solution to the issue of connecting in-person and online attendees in a class or meeting.
I have gotten kicked out of my own Zoom class twice so far this semester. Each time, the first thing that freezes is the chat. Then, I can’t access any screen share, participants, or other navigation functions. I can still hear and see students - and they can hear and see me - but that’s all I can do. I can’t even leave the Zoom meeting and come back - each time I have had to force shut down my computer and then restart. I told students at the beginning of the semester that my backup if I was ever kicked out would be to share instructions via the Canvas chat, which works if my computer isn’t also compromised but isn’t the easiest solution if all I have access to is my phone.
Aside from needing to figure out what is going on with my Zoom, this illustrates perfectly why I have long wanted to find a good live chat option that lives outside of Zoom (or WebEx, or any other program). I’m thrilled to share one that I just discovered (with the caveat that I’ve tested it at home but have not used it with a group of students yet).
Chatzy
Chatzy provides a simple interface for a simple program. Create a room, invite students (email or a link to share) and they join the chat. It requires an email to enter the room, but they can create their own name, so if you wanted an anonymous chat, you could use this for that as well.
It’s just as easy to use from a phone as from a computer, and there’s no software to download or update, no fees, no computer requirements. There are some more robust options available - polls, changing the look, and a few more - for a fee, but fancy is not my objective. For an emergency replacement to Zoom or for a quick chat with a colleague or student, this simple and free program might be a great solution.
Besides an emergency alternative during an online-only class meeting, there’s another - perhaps even more useful - application for backchannel or sidebar discussion during a HyFlex event. Whether it’s a class session or a meeting or training, connecting participants in the room with those online is a challenge. Since Chatzy is easy to use from a phone or computer, it can connect participants who are in-person with those who are online without having the in-person folks log in to Zoom.
Happy chatting!
Past Tech Thursdays
Student engagement: Climer cards / Digital exit tickets / Interactive quizzing / Online question management for classes & presentations / Wheel of Names (random name generator) / Providing audio feedback
Accessibility: Accessibility Infographics / Two programs to reduce eyestrain
Zoom: Name Breakout Rooms / Screen share in Zoom / How to Zoom in in Zoom
Research: Managing references / Find free versions of articles / Text Capture Apps
Using images: Extract text from images / Remove distracting backgrounds from photos / Using screenshots
Google: “Publish” from Google Drive / Google Classroom updates / “Make a copy” function in Google Drive / Working in shared Google docs / Collaborating in Google Slides / Turn Google Forms into a formatted document
Canvas: Canvas chat/ Custom dashboard labels / Canvas “What-if” grades / Deliver assignment instructions as a Quiz
Productivity: Set times for tasks / Finding OERs / Study Skills Videos / Keeping Notes on Students / Keyboard shortcuts / Text Expanders / Mailbird email program / Voice-to-text options / Custom URLs & QR codes / DropBox Paper for collaboration