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KTP 1.2 Adding Discussion Forums

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21 views10 pages

KTP 1.2 Adding Discussion Forums

Uploaded by

Mohamed Juma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Adding Discussion Forums

MODULE 7

MODULE 7
KTP 1.2: Adding Discussion Forums
Adding Discussion Forums
MODULE 7

KTP 1.2: Discussion Forums

Forums are a powerful communication tool that can engage your learners in collaborative
projects, such as group projects, brainstorming, discussing or debating among students,
contributing to a topic, role playing, among others. Think of them as online message boards
where you and your students can post messages to each other while easily keeping track
of individual conversations.

Instructors and students can communicate and collaborate using Moodle Forums.
Instructors can create discussion topics or, depending on the forum type, allow students to
originate topics. Course members can then "post" replies, and "subscribe" if they want to
receive an email copy of each post made to a particular forum.

Tips to consider before adding forums


Before you dive in and start creating stimulating forums for your course, take some time to
think about the following issues:
- Determine how the forum discussion will be related to the learning objectives and
topic.
- Clearly explain your intentions of use and directions for your learners.
- Decide whether you want to assess learners’ participation in forums
- Establish classroom protocols for polite and positive replies
Adding Discussion Forums
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How to add a new Forum to your course

1. Select “Forum” activity from “Add an activity or resource” list and then click
on the “Add” button.
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2. Enter Forum name and description.

3. Select Forum Type

Forum Types
There are multiple forum types in Moodle. Some forum types allow only the instructor to
start a new topic, and others allow students to start new topics.

 Standard forum for general use allows for the “standard” usage of a discussion
forum with multiple topics arranged in a threaded conversation. Students may start
new topics in this format.

 Standard forum displayed in a blog-like format allows for the “standard” usage of
a discussion forum with multiple topics arranged in a “blog" style format with the first
post prominent and comments behind a link. Students may start new topics in this
format.
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 Single simple discussion allows for only one topic started by the instructor. This is
best suited for short-term, focused conversations.

 Each person posts one discussion allowing each student to only start one new
topic or conversation within the forum. Students are not limited in the number of
replies they can post within those topics.

 Q and A forum allows an instructor to pose a question to students. Students must


post their response or answer before they can view other students’ responses.

 The News Forum is a unique forum, automatically created with the course for
instructors to post announcements. Comments are not allowed, only instructors and
TAs can post to the forum, and all course participants receive an email copy of each
post by default.

4. Configure Attachments and word count

.
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Attachments and word count


 Maximum attachment size
Each attachment cannot exceed this file size. (If a student can attach multiple files,
and attaches files at different times, the total can exceed the set size.)

 Maximum number of attachments


Each student will be able to upload up to the maximum number of attachments for
their submission.

 Display word count


This setting specifies whether the word count of each post should be displayed or
not.

5. Configure subscription and tracking

Subscription and tracking


Subscription mode
Subscription mode is set to Optional subscription by default (recommended). This allows
students to choose to subscribe to the forum and receive an email copy of each post
made. Other choices are:
 Forced subscription - Everyone is subscribed and cannot unsubscribe (not
recommended in most cases).
 Auto subscription - Everyone is subscribed initially but can choose to unsubscribe
at any time.
 Subscription disabled - Subscriptions are not allowed.
Read tracking
If enabled, participants can track, read and unread posts in the forum and in
discussions. By default, this is set to Optional, and forum tracking is controlled by
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individual users in their Personal Profile. If set to Off, read and unread posts are not
tracked.

6. Configure Post threshold for blocking

Post threshold for blocking

 Time period for blocking


This setting limits the number of posts students can make in a period of time.
Choose the time period within which to block students from posting from the Time
period for blocking drop-down menu.
 Post threshold for blocking
If a time period for blocking has been set, this setting specifies the maximum
number of posts which a user can post in the given time period.
 Post threshold for warning
Students can be warned as they approach the maximum number of posts allowed in
a given period. This setting specifies after how many posts they are warned.
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7. Configure Ratings

Ratings

You can grade your students' posts using Ratings. Instructors can rate each post a student
makes, and the ratings are aggregated into a single grade in the gradebook.
 Roles with permission to rate
Once the forum activity has been saved, you will be able to see the roles Moodle
users must have in order to submit ratings. The list of roles may be amended via
the permissions link in the Administration block.
 Aggregate type
The aggregate type defines how ratings are combined to form the final grade in the
gradebook. Choose from one of the following options in the Aggregate type drop-
down menu:
Average of ratings - The mean of all ratings.
Count of ratings - The number of rated items becomes the final grade. Note that the
total cannot exceed the maximum grade for the activity.
Maximum - The highest rating becomes the final grade.
Minimum - The smallest rating becomes the final grade.
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Sum - All ratings are added together. Note that the total cannot exceed the
maximum grade for the activity.
Note: If No ratings is selected, then the activity will not appear in the gradebook.
 Scale
If an aggregate type has been selected, you may select the type of grading used for
this activity. If Scale is chosen, you can then choose the scale from the Scale drop-
down menu. If using Point grading, you can then enter the maximum grade
available for this activity.
 Restrict ratings to items with dates in this range
If this check box is selected, you can set a specific date range during which a post
must be made in order to receive a grade.

8. Configure Common Module Settings


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Common Module Settings

 Visible
Set whether or not an assignment is visible to students. By default, new
assignments are set to Show. (This is comparable to using the Hide/show icon for
the activity on your course page.)
 ID number
Setting an ID number identifies the activity for grade calculation purposes.
 Group mode, Grouping, Available for group members only
These options let you restrict the assignment to particular groups of students you
have already created in Moodle.

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