Posting a Discussion
A Discussion within a forum is the start of a new Topic or the posing of a question that solicits replies from other students and/or your instructor.
You may use Discussions in a forum to:
- Start a new conversation by posting your own topic or question.
- View other students’ Topics and Replies.
- Reply to your instructor or other students.
How to Post a Discussion
To start a conversation in a forum, use the button that reads “Add a new discussion” which appears below the forum description/instructions.
Forums
After clicking the Add a new discussion button:
- A new page will load with the forum description at the top of the page.
- Compose your post and subject in a separate document and save it to your computer for safekeeping and a personal record.
- Copy the content from your document into the Subject and Message text boxes within Moodle.
- Ensure the Discussion subscription box is checked if you want to be subscribed, or unchecked if you do not want email notifications.
- Attach any relevant files to the forum.
- Click the “Post to forum” button at the bottom of the page.
- You have 30 minutes to make any changes to your post before it will lock.
Open Forums (prev. Moodlerooms Forums)
After clicking the Add a new discussion button:
- A web form will appear below the forum description.
- Compose your post and subject on a separate document and save it to your computer for safekeeping and a personal record.
- Copy the content from your document into the Subject and “Type your post” text boxes within Moodle. NOTE: If you are NOT using the default text editor and you opt to enable the advanced editor, you may lose the content you’ve entered.
- Click the “Submit” button.
- You have 30 minutes to make any changes to your post before it will lock.
Posting a Reply
A Reply in a Forum is a response to an existing Discussion Topic or Question. Generally a forum will have more replies than discussions.
You may use forum replies to:
- Make responses in other students’ Discussion Topics.
- Receive feedback or responses from other students.
- Respond to a question posed by your instructor or other students.
How to Post a Reply
- Enter the forum.
- Click into the Discussion Topic that interests you by clicking on its subject.
- Locate the actual post you wish to respond to. There will be one or more links and/or buttons at the bottom; click on the Reply link.
- Enter your reply in the Message box; the Subject is optional.
- If you want to be kept aware of further posts in this Discussion, check the Discussion Subscription checkbox. However, this step is optional.
- When ready, click the Post to forum button.