About CourseChat for CourseWeb

CourseChat is a service based on Jabber to provide Instant Messaging (IM) to students taking classes in HSSEAS. When students and instructors/TAs logon to the CourseChat service, they will be presented with the class rosters and chat rooms of the classes they are taking or teaching so they can instant message any fellow students or instructors/TAs who are currently logged on and/or join one or more of their class chat rooms.

Also, the CourseChat client (based on JBother) provides a "Whiteboard" feature that enables two or multi users to share a writing board for the purpose of exchanging ideas that are easier done pictorially.

We hope this new service will bring a different dimension of interactivity to the learning experience.

See also HSSEAS' article on CourseChat.

CourseChat's Contributors

In the summer of 2004, student representatives from ACM proposed the idea of developing a Jabber based IM service for CourseWeb. Since SEASnet was already exploring chat services, it was agreed that ACM and SEASnet would work together to adapt existing Jabber technology to provide an IM service for CourseWeb and the classes it supports. Special thanks to Shaun Ahmadian, Jason Schroeder, and Wing-Kai Chan of UCLA ACM for their major contributions to the original development of CourseChat's server and client for CourseWeb.

CourseChat has been undergoing enhancements, especially as projects for CS130 classes under SEASnet's direction. Much gratitude to the following individuals who had contributed enhancements to CourseChat.

• Roman Janczak, Juan Garcia, and Sabah Chaudhry of Winter 2006's CS130 class for the multi-user class whiteboard feature (previously the whiteboard could only be used privately between two users).

CourseChat has given HSSEAS students a rare opportunity to work on a real-world project that is to be utilized by themselves, their peers, instructors and TA's. SEASnet continues to welcome students' contributions.

What is Jabber?

An open protocol for Instant Messaging (IM) using streaming XML technology. For more information please visit: http://www.jabber.org/

Why is instant messaging useful?

Although instructors and students can comunicate with each other using email and the discussion forum, IM provides an added level of interactivity. With email or a forum post, you are unsure if anyone is reading it and there is a delay of feedback. However, with instant messaging you can get immediate feedback from the person you are trying to contact and can help to quickly clarify any errors or questions you may have without having to play email or phone tag.

I am interested, how do I use or opt-in to this service?

For information on how to use this service, please go to your class website on CourseWeb and click on "IM/Chat Room" for details on how to connect to the service and a link to the client.

I am not interested, how do I opt-out of this service?

For information on how to opt-out of this service, please go to your class website on CourseWeb and click on "IM/Chat Room" for details on how to opt-out.