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Forum Types In Moodle

Summary

Moodle overs a variety of forum types to suit your discussion needs.

This guide will help you to decide which forum type works for your purposes.

News & Announcements Forum
Various Discussion Type Forums
How to Add a Forum
Grading Forums: Whole Forum vs Rating
Forum Subscription

News & Announcements Forum

The News & Announcements forum is a special forum for class announcements that is automatically created when a course is created.  Instructors post to this forum so that students receive the post in their email and the post is also archived in the course.

  • A course should have just one News & Announcements forum.
  • Student do not post or reply in this type of forum. This forum type is one-way only communication.
  • Students are automatically subscribed (Forced) to this forum so any messages will be sent to their email and in addition, an archive of messages is also kept in the course that can be revisited throughout the semester.
  • This forum is the main type of communication to use when you want to communicate information to the entire class.

Discussion Forums

Alternatively, if you want a Forum for interaction between students, to allow them to create posts, etc., consider which type of forum below would be appropriate for your needs.

Various Forum types to consider:

    • A single simple discussion

      • A single discussion topic which everyone can reply to (cannot be used with separate groups)

    • Each person posts one discussion

      • Each student can post exactly one new discussion topic, which everyone can then reply to

    • Q and A forum

      • Students must first post their perspectives before viewing other students' posts

    • Standard forum displayed in a blog-like format

      • An open forum where anyone can start a new discussion at any time, and in which discussion topics are displayed on one page with "Discuss this topic" links

    • Standard forum for general use

      • An open forum where anyone can start a new discussion at any time

ToHow to Add a Forum

    1. Turn Editing On in the top right corner of the Moodle page.image.png


    2. Click on the  'Add an Activity'Activity link.or resources link at the bottom of the appropriate section of the course.image.png
    3. SelectOn Forumthe orActivities Advancedtab, Forum.choose (Forum:

    4. image.pngDecide which type of forum will fit your needs. The ?-buttons button to the left will help guideyou you.)decide:

      image.png

    5. You can

      Fill selectin the desiredForum optionsName byand editingprovide instructions for what students will be discussing and when and how they should  post

       
    6. Edit the rest of the forum settings.settings as desired. See the notes below:

Notes
For more information on the settings see Grading Forums: Whole Forum vs Rating
Forum Subscription

Customize the forum 'subscription' by editing the setting for the forum.

image.png

Subscription indicates whether students have the option to opt out of receiving email notifications of when posts are made as shown below.image.png


For detailed information, see the Forum Activity Moodle Doc

Seek Further Assistance

For additional assistance please contact, Clarkson OIT Help Desk; Online: Get Help Email: helpdesk@clarkson.edu Call: 315-268-HELP (x4357)

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