Overview

The forum activity module enables participants to have asynchronous discussions i.e. discussions that take place over an extended period of time.

There are several forum types to choose from, such as a standard forum where anyone can start a new discussion at any time; a forum where each student can post exactly one discussion; or a question and answer forum where students must first post before being able to view other students' posts. A teacher can allow files to be attached to forum posts. Attached images are displayed in the forum post.

Participants can subscribe to a forum to receive notifications of new forum posts. A teacher can set the subscription mode to optional, forced or auto, or prevent subscription completely. If required, students can be blocked from posting more than a given number of posts in a given time period; this can prevent individuals from dominating discussions.

Forum posts can be rated by teachers or students (peer evaluation). Ratings can be aggregated to form a final grade which is recorded in the gradebook.

Forums have many uses, such as

A social space for students to get to know each other
For course announcements (using a news forum with forced subscription)
For discussing course content or reading materials
For continuing online an issue raised previously in a face-to-face session
For teacher-only discussions (using a hidden forum)
A help centre where tutors and students can give advice
A one-on-one support area for private student-teacher communications (using a forum with separate groups and with one student per group)
For extension activities, for example ‘brain teasers’ for students to ponder and suggest solutions to.

Forum Types and Applications

There are five types of forums:

A single simple discussion
Each person posts one discussion
Q and A forum
Standard forum displayed in a blog-like format
Standard forum for general use

The purpose of all the forums is to extend the class conversation outside of the face-to-face class meeting. Each has strengths for extending the conversation in different ways. You may read more about the forum activity on Moodle documentation pages.

Single, Simple Discussion

Function: A single discussion topic which everyone can reply to (cannot be used with separate groups)
Possible Applications: This forum type is useful for having a focused discussion on a single topic. It does not allow students to create discussion topics.

Each person posts one discussion

Function: Each student can post exactly one new discussion topic, which everyone can then reply to.
Possible Applications: This forum type could be used for peer review in which each student posts text/files for others to review. It is recommended to model appropriate criticism in this case.

Question and Answer Forum

Function: The instructor posts a discussion topic. Students then must first post their own perspectives before viewing other students' posts
Possible Applications: This is a great tool for informal assessment, checking in on student learning.

Standard Forum, Displayed Like a Blog

Function: 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. This forum type behaves like the other standard forum, allowing anyone in the course to begin a discussion topic. This type displays the entire initial discussion topic with a link to reply.
Possible Applications: This forum could be used for any number of applications such as an open discussion of multiple class topics, or an open forum for students to get to know one another.

Standard Forum for General Use

Function: An open forum where anyone can start a new discussion at any time.
Possible Applications: This forum could be used for any number of applications such as an open discussion of multiple class topics, or an open forum for students to get to know one another.