Online chat

[KarlGoddard]

I've been thinking about setting up an on line chat for an activity with, possibly, our new Year 7 next year and wondered if anyone could recommend a chat application that was 'secure' ie where only those invited could participate in the chat activity. A hosted solution is preferred - I don't particularly want to have to set up something

This will be a kind of pre activity to a bigger proposed project using E2BN Flash Meeting later in the year.

MSN / Yahoo etc is something I *don't really use* so any pointers or experiences anyone's had would be appreciated!

[powdarrmonkey]

Don't know if it's much help to you but we issue a single user of our VLE to feeder schools and grant them and our Y7 access to a discussion area where they can ask questions etc. Moderated by staff at all times.

[KarlGoddard]

Don't know if it's much help to you but we issue a single user of our VLE to feeder schools and grant them and our Y7 access to a discussion area where they can ask questions etc. Moderated by staff at all times.

that's a really really good idea - not what I'm looking for this project, but that is definitely something I'll implement on or VLE later in the year. Great idea!! Thanks!

[mac_shinobi]

Ventrilo - About

[FN-GM]

If you want instant messaging you could use jabber

Jabber.org | open instant messaging and presence

[localzuk]

I'd have to say that you aren't going to find a hosted service, unless you use something like Fronter as your VLE (which contains a chat module).

Personally, I'd go with OpenFire. It integrates nicely with Active Directory, so can be rolled out to existing pupils easily, and has a series of modules to control various things, such as bad language. It can also log all conversations if necessary. It doesn't take long to set up either - about 20 minutes can have it up and running.

But, depending on how many people are going to be using it at once, you may need to put it on its own server, as it can get quite demanding with big groups of people using it at once. Also, if you have it accessible from outside school, you'd need a decent connection to the net as it can munch through bandwidth.

[rrichmond]

Are you aware that Moodle has a chat module built into it? It might not be the solution you are looking for....

We are testing it at school, for all our courses, and the chat module is good as it limits who can access it.