The following are suggested techniques for interactions and postings using the discussion board forums. These techniques are recommended for helping make the conversations easier to comprehend and search.
Discussion board forum are tools for carrying on a conversation between learners and/or an instructor. This is an interactive tool that is available that has few limitations related to available hardware or software. Conversations conducted using this tool are similar in nature to conversations in a face-to-face class except that it is typed versus spoken, but it has the potential of addressing issues to much greater breadth and depth than in possible in a face to face class because of time restrictions. Unfortunately, the value of these tools are controlled by the level and depth of participation by the learners using the forum (of course this is also true of a face to face class). Conversations in a discussion forum generally take place over a longer period of time and at a reduced pace as compared to the similar interactions in a face to face class.
A discussion forum is a tool in which a participant posts comments or questions in a area where all participants can access the posting. The postings are not automatically shown to other participants. The other participants must choose to open the posts they wish to read. Entries are posted almost immediately, but are accessed by other at their convenience or under the time limitations placed on the forum by an instructor or discussion leader. The conversation can take place quickly if all or most of the participants are online at the same time, but normally proceed at a slower pace because the participants select the times they access the forums within the guidelines and controls set by the instructor or discussion leader.
Example Forum
In the example above, one would click on the title "Using Discussion Forums" to enter the forum.
In most forums, participants may post "new threads" or reply to earlier postings. Some forums may restrict the ability to begin new threads, but this is not in common practice for most uses. These forums may also allow anonymous posts or require posts that include the writer's name. In assessed forums for classes, names are normally required for each post to expedite assessments. This can be controlled by the administrator of the forum.
Post appear with a hierarchy that helps organize the posts in a logical pattern. A new thread will normally appear to the far left of a column of post titles. A reply to a new thread will be indented and below the original post. If there are multiple replies to one post, these will all have the same indentation and appear in the order they were posted. It is also possible to reply to a reply and so on. Each level of reply will be indented and below the post the reply addresses. A discussion with many posts may, in some cases, create a situation in which it is inconvenient to determine which post another post is replying to. For this reason, it is good practice to begin a post by identifying the person the post speaks to (if one person is the primary target of the message).
Example of Hierarchy
In the example above, please note that the original or new thread was titled "Titling New Threads". The post titled "Retitling replies" demonstrates the indentation for a reply. Notice the "Add New Thread" button. This is used to initiate a new thread. See below for using "Reply". Note the "OK" button. In all cases, when an action is taken, this button must be selected to complete the action. (Posting thread, posting reply, ending viewing of current list of threads or posts, etc.)
It is good practice to always place a one to four word description in the subject line to help others recognize the general subject of the post. When replying to a post, it is good practice to change the default subject line (which will appear as: RE: "original post title") to a description that gives an idea of the new content. The RE: may remain or be removed. This helps others return to a message without having to search through many posts to find the desired post.
Example of Untitled Reply
Please note in the example above the variety of ways to title posts. The first three have had the subject lines modified to help determine the general concept shared in the posts. The third left the RE: to help other recognize it as a reply (although the indentation also does this). The fourth post is an example of what occurs when one leaves the default subject line in a reply. Note the title of the post replied to is used for the title with RE: appearing also. This sometimes is desirable, but in most cases changing the title will help dramatically when a person wishes to revisit a post. Also above, one can see the posted message associated with the final reply posted. Notice the "Reply" button to the right. This is selected if one wishes to reply to the visible posting.
Example of Advanced Tools
In the example above, clicking on either the tab or triangle highlighted by the by the blue ovals, one can access the advanced tools.
Advanced Tools Pallet
The graphic above shows the advanced discussion tools. (Note the boxes to the left of the subject lines and the icons above the forum.) One may place a check in one or more of the check boxes on the right to select posts for further action (viewing, marking read or unread, etc.) For the icons, from left to right, the first will place a check mark in all check boxes, the next will deselect all boxes, the third will reverse all boxes, the read button will change all messages that are marked to appear as having been read, the unread icon will make them appear as if they are still unread. The collect button will display all messages that have the boxes checked in one screen. The remaining tools are either not commonly used or are only available to the administrator(s).
Example of Viewing Multiple Messages
The graphic above shows how messages will appear when multiple messages are viewed at one time. Please note that one may reply to message when displayed this way, but only one message per multiple display may be replied to. This tool is convenient for reading many messages at one time. If used, one should note titles of messages that are to replied to (other than the first). One may not use the "Back" tool to return to the multiple display and must be able to relocate the message to be replied to from among the "Read" messages.
Also note the remove and modify buttons. These are only visible if the administrator elects to allow these actions. Often the "Remove" option is not activated and there may be some occasions for which the "Modify" option may not be provided.