Why Use Jabber?

  • Secure communication - Jabber@UWW uses secure technology (Secure Socket Layer, or "SSL") to ensure conversations between you and others are kept private.
  • Customizable for your class or office - Unlike commercial services, Jabber@UWW is locally administered. Conference rooms, and contact lists can be created and customized to suit your needs.
  • Uses your UW-W Net-ID
  • Chat with people on other networks - Have an existing account with another chat service? Attach it to your Jabber@UWW account. Chat with AIM, Yahoo!, MSN/Windows Live, GTalk and other Jabber users.
  • Built on standards - Jabber@UWW uses open technology standards. The technology is standardized in the same way the web is, which makes it expandable and open to new features.

Using Jabber for your course

Jabber@UWW is both a stand-alone chat environment, and can also be used as a group chat and conference room. Conference rooms can be creeated for your course, typically in D2L, and links can be added to your course which students can access to chat with the entire class, or for virtual office hours.

It is possible to also provide individual conference rooms for private group discussions. Public and group conference rooms have a history which is always available in the room.

In addtion, Spark, an application which runs on personal computers, can be used in your course to facility personal communication between students and the instructor.