ABSTRACT
Discussion forums are a central component of online learning. This chapter shows that you will inevitably be invited to take part in a range of different forums for a variety of purposes. These include formal class forums, specific module forums, informal forums, and a range of chat rooms and discussion groups. You might also find that they are not called forums or discussions. This chapter shows they may be called wikis, for instance, or a team, or a room. It is worthwhile getting to know the way forums work at your university. This is because some forums are used as a means of assessment. If you do not know how to use your university’s forum software, there is a chance you could lose marks. Participation in forums generally is linked to better marks. The more you participate, the better. However, anxiety and worry can inhibit participation in forums. For this reason, it is a good idea to set up routines for checking forums. You can use various ways of monitoring forums and discussion groups that include regular calendar entries, email subscriptions, and RSS feeds.
