Helpful Hints

Following are a few simple instructions that will make it easier to participate in a WebChat.

Identifying Yourself

You should always begin a chat by identifying yourself!

Below the large white chat box, you will find a smaller white box that asks for your name and school name. Before typing your message in the chat box, you should enter your name and an abbreviation of your school name, separated by a slash. For example: Pat/Lincloln Elem.

Hit the "Chat Button" to save this information.

Refresh Rate 

The "Refresh Rate" determines how often the text on your screen is updated or refreshed. As your screen is refreshed you are able to see the new messages that have been sent by the other chatters.

Do NOT hit the "Reload" button to try and see new messages.

If you leave the "Refresh Rate" box blank, you will need to hit the "Chat "button when you are ready to read new messages.

If you would like for your screen to automatically refresh at regular time intervals, enter a number between 1 and 99 in the "Refresh Rate" box just above the chat box. The number you enter represents the number of seconds between refreshes. If you enter a high number the chat screen will be refreshed infrequently. If you enter a lower number the refresh rate will occur almost constantly. We suggest the number 20 for starters.

Chatting

If you have entered a number in the "Refresh Rate" window, you will need to hit the "Pause Button" before you begin to type your message in the "Chat Window." This will stop the refresh while you type your message. (If you have not entered a number in the "Refresh Rate" box you will not see the "Pause Button.")

To send a message to the rest of the group, type it into the large white window.

Once you have completed your message hit the "Chat Button" to send your message out to the other participants.