I would also assume that if a student is being so disruptive as to require removal from a chat, they are also likely to be not meeting their commitments for the rest of the course work. Thanks for your advice, Patti

In a chat session, two students being to argue with one another and their discussion becomes heated. As the instructor, I'm successful in gaining control over the chat and get it back on track. However, after the chat, I would be of the opinion that both students should be contacted to remind them of the importance of "Netiquette". I'd like to hear other's opinions on how to follow up on a situation like this.

Has anyone used an initial synchronous discussion to set the tone for the upcoming class, answer general questions, and get to know the students a bit?

I believe that when the teacher displays their motivation for instructing a class through their passion for and knowledge of the subject, the students will have an easier time motivating themselves to participate.

Because online instructors lack the audio/visual component of student/teacher interactions, I'd like to learn some best practices for identifying the warning signs of an online student becoming frustrated.