Moodle Minutes #7 - Session seven of our Moodle Minutes. A series of practical demonstrations on how to apply for and use the RI Moodle Delivery Platform. Session Topics include: • What the forum options are (ideas for setting up forums) • How to set up and contribute to forums in your Moodle Course • How to ensure student participation, minimise behaviour issues, and archive long discussions

1. RI Moodle
Learning Management System @ RI
"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself," a
Chinese proverb says. The same can be said about technology
in the classroom. If used properly, technology merely opens the
door.*
d *
*Joe Rowe August 2005
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/archives/page9155.cfm

2. Moodle Minutes 6…what we covered
> What activities we can add
– Assignment, chat, choice, feedback, forum, glossary, quiz
> Creating a poll
– Choice Activity
– Checking and Saving Results
– Use in RI Template as Student Assessment Guide
p
Acknowledgement
> T view previous sessions – go t T d @RI Wiki
To i i i to Today@RI Wikispace
http://learningtechnologyteam.riverinainstitute.wikispaces.net/riToday

3. Adding a Forum
> Forum Options
p
> Set up and Contribute to Forums
> How to ensure student participation, minimise behaviour issues and
participation
archive long discussions

4. Add a Forum in Content area...
> Turn Editing On
> Go to Section where you want the forum
> Add an activity....
y
– Select Forum

5. ...add a Forum in Content area
> Give forum a name
– This will be the link the students click on to get into the forum

6. ...add a Forum in Content area
Select the forum type
> Standard Forum
– Multiple discussions, multiple subscribers
> Si l Si l Di
Single Simple Discussion
i
– Short discussion on a single topic
> Each person posts a discussion
– Subscribers post one discussion topic each, everyone can reply
> Q & A Forum
– Students have to post their viewpoint first before responding to
peers posting

7. ...add a Forum in Content area
> Type in a forum introduction
– This will be the text that explains to your participants what the
forum is for.

8. ...add a Forum in Content area
> Subscription options
– No
– Yes, forever
(announcements etc)
– Yes, initially (allows
participants to select)
– Not allowed
> Attachment size!!
> Select all other options eg
group access etc.

9. How do People contribute?
> Click on forum link
> Add new discussion

10. ...how do People contribute?
> Type subject, message

11. ...how do People contribute?
> Choose subscription options
> Attach file (if required)
> Post to forum

12. Subscribing

13. How do I check student participation?
> Go to the People Block
> Click on Participants
> Select Students Name
> Click Forum Posts tab

14. What else should I consider?
> Link forums directly to activity for easy access
> Let participants know response times
> Make it clear what behaviour is acceptable
> Word open ended discussions carefully and give clear instructions on
open-ended
response expectations
> Actively participate to elevate importance of discussion
> Provide an intro forum as a get to know you activity and allow
students to practice forums
> When they get to long – archive them and restart the thread with a
summary.

15. How do I archive?
> Create a new forum in the most appropriate area called Archived
Forums
> Open the forum and select Move this discussion to.... Select
Archived forums
> Return to the original forum and post a summary or the archived
discussion to restart it.

16. Next Session
Adobe Captivate
> Tuesday 15 September 2009: 3.30 pm – 4.15 pm
This session from the Centre for Learning Innovation will look at one
Innovation,
the key pieces of Adobe software available to all teachers as part of
the Digital Education Revolution. Adobe Captivate allows you to
create professional eLearning content with advanced i t
t f i l L i t t ith d d interactivity,
ti it
software and scenario simulations, quizzes, and other engaging
experiences — no programming or multimedia skills required.