IE - FORUMS

If you need help or advice, please access our office hours! or contact faculty.training.support@ie.edu

Step 1: Install the LTI IE FORUM tool

Step 2: Create Forums

Step 3: Create Threads

Thread options - Release conditions- Block Thread

Step 4: Manage discussions

Replys

DON´T USE COPY & PASTE TO ADD IMAGES, as it might cause performance issues!

Unread messages

Graded forums - Check Participation

Students view - messages limit in a forum - character limit in a message

This is a guide for the "IE Forums" tool , developed by IE for blended programs.

The main difference with BbUltra Discussions is that in this tool you can limit the number of messages in a forum and limit the number of characters in the messages. Also you can prevent students from deleting or editing their own messages.

As Ultra discussions are still available in the course, please be sure to use the correct tool (BBUltra discussions or IE Forums) according to the program instructions.

*As IE FORUMS is an external LTI tool, it is not possible to copy forums from one course to another.

AI Summary Tool for IE Forums !!

For specific questions, you can always drop in on our office hours!

Step 1: Install the LTI IE FORUM tool

First, check If the IE forums tool is already avalible under the course content. In that case, go directly to Step 2.

Press the plus sign
Select Content Market.

3 .Select IE Forums

IMPORTANT: press the PLUS ICON as shown with the red arow.

4. By default, the tool is hidden from students. Edit to make it visible to students.

Step 2: Create Forums

For blended programs, the recommendation is to create one forum per online session.

If the forums are already created by the program assitant, go directly to Step 3.

FORUM OPTIONS

Title: up to 100 characters

Description: up to 3000 characters

Visibility:

Available
Not available
or with release dates or performance conditions

Grade Discussion: (useful to check participation - nº of post per student)

Allow Subscriptions

Allow the author to delete their posts

Allow the author to edit their posts

Allow participants to create threads

Allow file attachments

Allow replying with quotes

LIMITS AND RESTRICTIONS

Maximun of messages per user e.g. 5

Maximun of characters per post e.g. 1000

Step 3: Create Threads

Create a new thread for each question or topic you want to discuss in the forum

click the 3 dots on the right
Selecct create a new thread
Write the title e.g. Q1 xxxx (100 caractres)

write the descripition (3000 caracters) here you can add links but you can not upload files.

You can use the release conditions and make the thread visible on a specific date/time

Thread options - Release conditions- Block Thread

You can use the release conditions and make the thread visible on a specific date/time
Once the discussion is finished you can BLOCK the THREAD , so students wont be able to post but they can still read the content.

Step 4: Manage discussions

Replys

Once the theads are created both, students and professor, can start adding replies. There are 9 levels of reply.

Press NEW REPLY.
Write the message. You can use different colours, attach files, links ....
Press Send

To insert images in a forum message, please use the ADD IMAGE* icon from the text editing menu. This adjusts image resolution and file size to appropriate levels and helps to avoid technical problems.

DON´T USE COPY & PASTE TO ADD IMAGES, as it might cause performance issues!

*The ADD IMAGE icon will be available shortly after Easter Break.

Unread messages

The number of unread messages will appear in red

If you click on the number of unread messages you will directly access (only) those new messages.

If you clik on the thread title you will have access to all the messages inside the thread, including both read and unread messages.

Unread messages have a blue backgroud,

To change status from UNREAD to READ you HAVE TO CLICK INSIDE THE MESSAGE.

To change status from READ to UNREAD, click three dots on the right and select Mark as unread.

Graded forums - Check Participation

If the forum is graded

Press the 3 dots -> select GRADING

( in case the forum is not graded, you can change it to GRADED from the forum options )

From the grading pannel, on the top left corner of each student, you will find the Nº OF POST he/she posted on this forum. And if you click the icon you will access those specific messages.

Students view - messages limit in a forum - character limit in a message

MODERATION: Tips for effective forum moderation

Good preparation of the forum discussion is key! Make sure that for each phase of the discussion (remember & understand, apply & analyze, evaluate & create) you have 3-4 questions prepared, so that participants have multiple entry options for the discussion and to make a valuable contribution.
Encourage your student to build on each others comments! Support them to create a culture of collaborative learning by responding to contributions of their class mates and challenging each others assumptions.
Provide guidance! Professor guidance ensures that the students stay on topic, don´t get stuck, and that the discussion progresses at the appropriate speed.
Challenge the students' thinking! As the discussion progresses, good moderation pushes the students to think harder and go beyond analysis.
Give recognition to strong contributions! This has a strong signalling effect for the students. It exemplifies the type of contributionthe professor values and thus wants to encourage. It also demonstrates that the professor is "present" in the conversation and "listening" to the students comments.
Wrap up the conversation! At the end of the discussion, provide the class with a summary of the most important points discussed. Ideally, the professor connects the more generic key take aways with contributions and examples that were brought up by the students.