Chat & messaging

Synchronous communication

A distinction has traditionally been made between asynchronous online communication, which is typical of discussion boards and email, and synchronous online communication, which is typical of chat (in chatrooms) and instant messaging (or IM), and of course nowadays mobile messaging. Synchronous communication aligns with web 2.0 in that it involves user interactions and exchanges, and with mobile learning in that it now mostly occurs through mobile apps.

Of course, while chat, IM and mobile messaging were designed as synchronous tools, it is possible to use them asynchronously, with users returning to a conversation when convenient, a common trend seen in mobile messaging. It should be noted that there is a grey area between messaging services and traditional VoIP services like Skype, with many companies nowadays providing both messaging and audio/video call options.

The educational advantages of synchronous communication include the following:

• backchannel conversation during live presentations: this approach has been used for some time at conferences, where audience members can ask questions or make comments during a presentation, with these questions/comments being addressed by speakers at appropriate intervals or at the end of a presentation, sometimes with the facilitation of a moderator
• backchannel conversation during online or blended/hyflex classes or meetings: when teaching or holding meetings through videoconferencing platforms such as Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, it is common to make a chat sidebar available for short questions and comments from participants, which can be addressed at appropriate times or at the end by presenters
• out-of-hours collaborative groupwork conversation: allowing students to work collaboratively outside class on group projects
• out-of-hours organisational conversation: allowing students to pose questions to teachers and peers outside of class, and teachers to send notifications or reminders to students
• multimodal interaction: exchanging text, images, videos and animations, and engaging in text-based, audio or video discussions (which is useful for language learners, who can draw on visual support for their interactions)
• permanent logs: allowing conversation transcripts to be preserved and revisited (which is again useful for language learners, but also for students conducting research interviews)

In synchronous communication, students may produce a large amount of language at a relatively high speed, which means that the focus tends to be on communication of key ideas rather than accuracy of expression or complexity of arguments. Many teachers find that synchronous communication is better suited to social interaction or organisational and administrative matters, or perhaps quick questions and comments during online/hyflex classes and meetings, while asynchronous discussion is generally more appropriate for topic- and task-focused interaction. Online and blended courses often make use of both, treating them as complementary modes of interaction; in these cases, asynchronous discussion is usually the main educational channel, while synchronous communication acts as a supporting background channel.

Chat & IM

Traditionally, an IM channel was opened for the duration of a conversation, usually between two users, and then closed, while chat would take place in a permanent or semi-permanent chatroom accessible to a number of users. Nowadays, there is a blurred line, with conversation channels usually being permanently maintained so they can be revisited any time, unless they are deleted; this is very typical of mobile communications (see below).

As group discussion spaces, chatrooms have generally been more popular than IM in education. It is possible to use chat functions within LMSs, or to set up new multi-user chats through text-based services like Chatzy or video-oriented services like ICQ and TinyChat and, of course, through the major services Skype and Google Chat (formerly Google Hangouts) as well as the recently popular Discord and the work-oriented Slack.

Synchronous or asynchronous collaborative chat around documents is possible on services like Google Docs and Microsoft’s OneNote, while collaboration around group whiteboards is possible on FigJam (now incorporating AI), Groupboard, Lucidspark, Miro (formerly Realtime Board), Web Whiteboard and eduPad; note that Google’s Jamboard, formerly popular with educators, is due to cease operation in late 2024.

Mobile messaging

To a large extent both chat and IM, as we have traditionally known them, have been superseded by messaging apps, which are chiefly (though not exclusively) used on mobile devices, and are part of a generation of OTT, or over-the-top, services which bypass traditional telecommunications, cable and satellite companies to provide free access over the internet. This means that mobile users with 3G, 4G or 5G connections can typically use these messaging apps at no cost (aside from the cost of an internet connection) to exchange text, audio and video messages, and to make audio and video calls . Unsurprisingly, such messaging apps have been increasing in popularity relative to SMS messaging. The best-known of today’s apps, some of which started out as desktop/laptop services, include Discord, Kik, Line, Messenger, Skype, Slack, Telegram, Viber, WeChat (微信), and WhatsApp (see these and other icons in the image at the top of the page). Many social media apps also include direct messaging capabilities.

It is not uncommon for students to set up collaborative group chatrooms using such apps, for example WeChat or WhatsApp. In some parts of the world, notably in Asia, it is common for teachers to set up class chatrooms on these apps so that they can easily send group messages to students, and students can contact them with questions or problems.

Last update: February 2024.