Using Discussion Forums/Bulletin Boards
What is a discussion forum?
A discussion forum/board and Bulletin Board are exactly the same thing. It is a shared area where users post messages called "posts" to be viewed by others. It's similar to an email mailing list except the posts do not come into your email inbox they are stored in one location and you typically need to go to the forum/board to read or contribute. Some tools allow you to subscribe to a forum in order to receive copies of new messages by email.
What can discussion forums be used for?
Discussion forums provide an online message board that can be used for a variety of purposes:
- Online discussions - either started online or continuing from face-to-face discussions
- Announcements and news
- Support - either from the tutor or from peers
How can I set up my own discussion forum?
UCL Discussions provides discussion space and anyone can register to use it. Discussion boards can be private, however the board administrator would need to invite people to join the discussion board. If you would like a discussion board to be set up please email phpbb-admin@ucl.ac.uk.
You can request your tutor to setup a discussion forum in Moodle, if it is relevant to your course.
Useful references:
