Using the Chat Tool in Canvas

Owned by Rob Caldwell, created
Apr 04, 2022
2 min read

We have added a new feature in Canvas that allows you and your students to chat with one another directly in Canvas.

Why use chat in your class?

  • A student who does not speak up in class may ask for help from peers

  • Provides a “backchannel” during class (can be useful if watching a film in class, for example)

  • Can start a conversation before students meet face to face

  • Can provide virtual office hours

  • Helps students form their own community

The Canvas chat feature is fairly basic. It does not allow for private chat. Students cannot delete their messages, though a teacher can. Instead of being a full-featured chat feature, it's really more about providing a "back-channel" for you in your classes.

Enabling Chat in a Canvas course

Because not everyone wants the responsibility of monitoring chat sessions, we have left this as an "opt-in" feature. You can turn chat on and off as you wish by following these simple instructions.

  1. Go to course settings

  2. Choose the Navigation tab

     

  3. Locate the Chat item,

    1. Click on the “more options” icon

    2. choose to Enable the chat.

If you wish to disable the chat, even temporarily, go to your course settings, choose the navigation tab, and disable the chat.

More Information

More information about the chat feature can be found here:

What is Canvas chat?

How do I use chat as an instructor?

 

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