Meet with student individually online and quiz them on course content. Using chat you can explore depth as well of breadth of your students' knowledge and understanding of the concepts. Students sign up for the date and time of their own quizzes, thus you give them some control and responsibility for their learning experience. Unfortunately some students use the web can be used as a cut, paste, and virtually lift papers at the touch of a computer key. You can use chat to debrief individual students after they turn in their assignments to determine if the work is really their own.
Language study can use chat transcripts for grammar practice in language courses.
For example, the dialog can be rewritten from direct to reported speech, or sentences can be analyzed for grammar, spelling, or vocabulary practice. This provides you students language practice on authentic text since the conversations are real and the students themselves are participants. Transcripts as a study tool offer a wonderful reference for students. After each chat session, post the transcript to a Web page so your students can reread the conversation that took place during the chat. Transcripts offers students an opportunity to review the discussion that transpired and gives those who were not present a chance to gain access to what happened in the chat session.