What forums can do
Forums have a variety of aims
You might be involved with
- a forum for a small group project
- a forum that's open to everyone on your course and has hundreds of contributors
- a discussion with a hundred people
- a technical support forum with thousands of people
- a tutor-group forum where you keep in touch with just a few people
- a forum for discussing hobbies which is open to all OU students
- a self-help group where just a few students keep in touch.
In charge of the forum there might be
- a tutor, posting news and comments to the group
- a moderator, encouraging discussion
- someone responding to queries, or just watching out for problems.
Forums might be an important and assessed part of your course, or they might be optional.
Types of activity
These are the sorts of things people do in forums.
Not every forum does all of these, and some forums specialise in one type of activity. Be guided by the forum name, and any description of forum aims posted by the person in charge. The four ways to help a forum work can help these different activities.
Next: Social conversation
