Moodle: Forum Activity

Overview

A Moodle forum allows students and instructors to exchange ideas by posting comments as part of a ‘thread’. Files such as images and media may be included in forum posts, and the teacher can choose to grade and/or rate forum posts. Read the following instructions to create a forum.

Creating a Moodle Forum

Enable Edit Mode by clicking on the switch button (top-right corner of the screen)

1. Find and select Add an activity or resource option on your course page

   1. Select Forum
      (activities are listed alphabetically or type “forum” in the search bar for quicker access)

2. Configure Basic Forum Settings

   1. Name: Add a forum name.

   2. Description (Optional): Provide a description to guide students on forum usage.

      ⚠️Note: Use this space to write instructions or requirements of the forum. This is NOT the area to add discussion questions.⚠️

       

3. Subscription Options: Subscriptions determine how students receive notifications for forum posts:

   1. Optional: Students choose whether to subscribe.

   2. Forced: All students are subscribed; they cannot opt out.

   3. Auto: Students are subscribed by default but can opt out.

   4. Disabled: Subscriptions are not available.

Choosing a Forum Type

Select the forum type that best suits your teaching needs (see image below):

• Standard forum for general use
  Open discussion where anyone can post. Best used for ongoing class discussions, open-ended topics and peer collaboration throughout the term.

• Standard forum displayed in a blog-like format:
  Posts appear in a blog-like view. Best used for reflective journaling, sharing project updates or weekly check-ins where individual posts are emphasized.

• Q&A forum
  Students must post before seeing other responses. Best used for graded assignments or assessments to ensure original student thinking before discussions begin.

• Each person posts one discussion:
  Students can only start one discussion thread. Best used for introductions or presenting unique information for peer feedback.

• A single simple discussion:
  A single discussion topic for all students. Best used for focused debates, class announcements or discussions on a specific reading or video.
   

Additional Optional Settings

1. Anonymize Posts: Yes, always; Yes, let the user decide; No, never)

2. Access Restriction:

   1. Students must match…: Provide access to specific users or groups.

   2. Students must not match…: Revoke access for specific users or groups.

   3. Restriction types: Date, Group or Grouping, Activity Completion and more
      Learn more about Moodle: Access Restriction

3. Completion Conditions: set requirements for student to create a set number of posts and replies

   1. Start [x] number of discussions OR post replies

   2. Start [x] number of discussions

   3. Post [x] number of replies

4. Common Module Settings: useful for managing and reviewing posts from multiple groups within one forum activity

   1. Group mode: Separate groups or Visible groups

      1. Separate groups: Students are divided into groups and can only see their group's work.

      2. Visible groups: Students are divided into groups, but can see the work of other groups.

   2. Grouping: pre-made grouping
      Learn more about Moodle: Groups and Groupings

After configuring these settings, click Save changes to finalize your forum setup.

Questions?

Submit a Moodle Support ticket.

Acknowledgement 

Created by Bonney Seth '27, 5/12/24. Updated by Em Palencia 7/25/25