Zoom’s in-meeting chat feature is an excellent channel for Q&A, comprehension checks, formative quizzes, and brief discussions (learn about some great pedagogical uses of Zoom's in-meeting chat here). But Zoom has another chat option that is more powerful and persistent. Here are a few things you should know.

1. We’re talking in this article about Zoom’s persistent chat, available via the Zoom app on your computer. It is much more robust than Zoom's in-meeting chat feature.

2. Zoom’s chat app is persistent. Unlike the in-meeting chat, which is only available to those present in the main room of a Zoom meeting, the chat app lets you create persistent channels and chats, and add students, faculty, and staff to the channel by their computing ID or name. 

3. Zoom's chat app can be used to communicate across breakout rooms. Unlike the in-meeting chat, which is only open to participants in a particular breakout room or meeting, the zoom chat app isn't tied to a particular room or space. That is, the whole class can use it to communicate regardless of whether they are currently in a shared room or meeting.  
4. You can use the chat app as a ‘back channel’ for communicating with a group of co-teachers, TAs, etc. Here are some of Zoom chat’s communication features:
   1. Type messages as you would in any instant messaging program
   2. Add audio messages 
   3. Send files (which remain accessible in the persistent chat group at all times)
   4. Capture, annotate, and share screenshots from your computing screen
   5. Use emojis and gifs to react to others
   6. Star and pin posts that you want to keep track of
   7. Start instant Zoom meetings from inside the chat
   8. Adjust privacy and notifications settings for each channel
5. For best results, use Zoom’s persistent chat app from the desktop app on your computer, and keep Zoom up to date.