Chat is real-time communication between two or more people using computers. Anything that works with synchronous communication online is chat, even if it is not called chat. Most networks, online services, and conferencing programs offer a chat feature. A chat room is a virtual room where a chat session takes place . Technically, a chat room is really a channel, but the term room promotes the chat metaphor.
Oral quizzes are a good use of chat.
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.