 The chat activity module allows course participants to have real-time online discussions. Chat activities might be a one-time event or they can be something that's repeated on a regular basis. The information discussed during a chat session is archived and is available for all participants to view after the chat has finished. Chats are a great way to encourage online interaction between participants and is useful when face-to-face options are not available. For example, chats can be used to encourage participants to share experience of their learning or you can schedule regular guest speakers. Or a question and answer session with a trainer. To create a chat session, from the course, select Turn Editing On. Select Add an activity or resource. Select Chat. Select Add. Name your chat room. Add a description if you wish to do so. Select Chat Sessions. Enter in the time and date you would like your chat session to begin. If you'd like to do repeat chat times, select the applicable option from the drop-down menu. By default, messages will never be deleted. However, if you wish to adjust this setting, you can do so by selecting your option from the drop-down menu. Once you're happy with your settings, select Save and Return to Course. Your chat session now appears on the course page. Once selected, it will notify the students when the chat session will start and provide the option to enter the chat room.