Online Learning at CSU
Useful Tips for using Forums
The general guidelines developed for Internet communication - Netiquette - apply to the use of forums. You will need to be familiar with this set of guidelines. Students also need to refer to the Policy for the Use of University Computing and Communication Facilities.
Focus on one subject per message
And use a subject heading that summarises the content of your message. This helps readers scan through postings for things that are relevant to them. Don't type messages in all upper case.
Compose easy to read messages
Try to make your messages as easy to read as possible. Limit the length of messages and use short paragraphs with blank lines between paragraphs. When replying to a message, type your message above the original message.
Phrase your postings thoughtfully
When posting a message, think about how you phrase the message so that it is complete and unambiguous. Assume that your posting is the only one people have read, so include everything you need to say in your message in the most concise way you can.
For example, Sue has posted a message about changing the national flag.Sue writes: " I believe that the Australian flag should be changed and should not include the union jack."
If you post a reply simply saying "I disagree" you are leaving yourself open to misinterpretation. Do you disagree with changing the flag, or just with the exclusion of the union jack? A better option would be to post a reply to Sue along the lines of: "You believe the Australian flag should be changed and its replacement should not include the Union Jack. While I agree that the flag should be changed, I believe that the Union Jack should remain as a part of the flag, etc., etc." (go on to give your reasons)
Threading
Threading allows you to follow the flow of a forum 'conversation' and see how messages relate to each other. If someone has posted a message with the heading 'I need a lift to res school', then if you wish to respond to this post, use the Reply button beneath that message, not the Post tab at the top of the screen. But if you have another question or statement that has nothing to do with the earlier question, you should post a new message.
See the Forum Help Guide for threading and other sorting options.
Quoting from a posting
The Reply function allows you to quote sections or all of the message you are responding to. Excessive quoting is not encouraged.
Remember your audience
Don't send private or confidential messages to a forum. Remember they are public noticeboards. You should use direct email for private messages.
Be persistent in messaging
If you were sitting in a classroom and didn't understand something, you would probably ask a question and would continue to ask questions until you were clear on that particular point. In face-to-face situations, your lecturer has the advantage of seeing your puzzled looks or whispered asides to classmates. These kinds of communication cues are lost within an online environment so you must be persistent; if you don't understand something, then ask for clarification. Post messages or replies back and forth, until you are satisfied that you have a clear understanding.
A quiet forum
If not much is happening on a subject forum you're involved in, don't sit back and wait for something to happen. Instead, be proactive; try and encourage forum activity yourself by making the next posting. Try some of the following ideas to encourage others in your group to contribute and participate in forum exchanges:
- ask about or discuss the next assignment topic. Investigate the idea of an online brainstorming session.
- post a statement that relates your studies to recent events. For example, if your subject topic is about 'Women in modern society', you could prompt an online discussion regarding the political stance on childcare policy and how this might impact on working mothers.
- if you've had a problem, perhaps others have experienced the same dilemma. Why not post your experience, and how you managed to resolve it.
- discuss possible exam questions and answers. Get hold of some past papers and begin a group discussion on possible answers.