Forums Tool - OWL
What is the Forums Tool
The Forums tool in OWL allows instructors and students to communicate amongst themselves asynchronously in response to topics of discussion.
What is the purpose of the Forums Tool
The Forums tool allows both instructors and students to create and reply to topics of discussion, and create specific conversation threads within topics. The Forums tool is highly customizable and flexible. The permission settings can give a wide range of access to all participants, or can be restricted to grant particular permissions for specific functions. Forums can be used to supplement discussion of course topics or as a gradable evaluation of student participation.
How to use the Forums Tool
Within your OWL worksite, enable the Forums tool using the "Site Info" page and clicking on the "Edit Tools" link. The Forums tool is added to the left side of your OWL worksite.
The structure of a Forum in OWL is as follows:
- A Forum is the overall platform on which all its enclosing topics of discussions should be based. You could have one main forum for any discussion relating to the course and a different forum for each unit.
- A Topic is a specific subject of discussion within the provisions of the forum.
- A Conversation is the discussion of a specific sub-topic, issue, or question relating to the main topic displayed as a series of replies.
To generate a new Forum, click "New Forum" button, and then customize your forum to suit your needs. You can access these settings again later in "Forum Settings". Create a new topic of discussion by clicking "New Topic". Customize your topic settings as desired. You can access these settings again later in "Topic Settings." Within a topic, you can start a new conversation by clicking "Start a New Conversation". A conversation is meant to lead to a series of replies related to the overall topic, but specific to your conversation.
Where to find Support
This tool is centrally supported
Support
For help, you can contact the WTS Helpdesk
Documentation
Additional information on OWL Forums can be found on the OWL Help - Forums page.
Tool Evaluation
Functionality
| Rating | Rationale |
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ScaleForums can be set up for sub-groups within a course allowing for the tool to be scaled to accommodate class size/communities of practice |
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Ease of UseThe Forums Tool has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and personalize (i.e. Topics within forums) |
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Tech Support/Help AvailabilityWestern technical support/help documentation is readily available. See the Forums page in OWL Documentation Wiki or contact the Helpdesk |
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HypermedialityThe tool allows users to communicate through different channels (audio, visual, textual) but is limited in its ability to provide non-sequential, flexible/adaptive engagement with material |
Accessibility
| Rating | Rationale |
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AODA FriendlyThe Forums Tool mostly meets accessibility guidelines (AODA and the W3C WCAG 2.0 standards) but the complexity of forums, topics, threads, messages, and replies represents a barrier. To reduce cognitive load it is recommended that forums be organized by topic. |
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User-focused participationThe Forums Tool has some limited capacity to address the needs of diverse users, their various literacies, and capabilities by being largely text-based |
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Required EquipmentProper use of the Forums Tool does not require specialized equipment |
Technical
| Rating | Rationale |
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OWL IntegrationThe Forums Tool is native to OWL |
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Operating SystemsUsers can effectively utilize the Forums Tool with any standard, up-to-date operating system (i.e. Windows, OSX, etc.) |
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Web BrowserUsers can effectively utilize the [title] tool with any standard, up-to-date web browser (i.e. Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Explorer etc.) |
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Additional Tech RequirementsUsers do not need to download additional software or browser extensions |
Mobile Design
| Rating | Rationale |
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Mobile Operating SystemsThe Forums Tool is accessible in OWL on all mobile devices through a browser. There is no native app for OWL, however you can access OWL through the WesternU app on both android and iOS devices. |
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Mobile FunctionalityThere is little to no functional difference with the Forums Tool when accessed on mobile systems |
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Offline AccessThe Forums Tool cannot be used in any capacity offline |
Usage and Account Set Up
| Rating | Rationale |
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Sign Up/Sign InUse of the Forums Tool does not require the creation of an external account or additional login beyond a Western Identity and access to OWL |
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Cost of UseAll aspects of the Forums Tool can be used free of charge to Western account holders |
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Archiving, Saving, and Exporting DataStudents and instructors can save Forum conversations as a PDF or print pages. |
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Data Privacy and OwnershipForum conversations are kept private to the registered participants. Group-organized forums are only accessible to the group members registered to that forum. Users maintain ownership and copyright of their intellectual property/data
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Social Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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CollaborationThe Forums Tool has the capacity to support a community of learning through asynchronous but not synchronous opportunities for communication, interactivity, and transfer of meaning between users |
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User AccountabilityInstructors can control student anonymity; The Forums Tool provides technical solutions for holding students accountable for their actions |
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DiffusionStudent familiarity with the Forums Tool is likely mixed, some will lack basic technical competence with its functions |
Instructor Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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FacilitationThe Forums Tool has easy-to-use features that would significantly improve an instructor’s ability to be present with students via active management, monitoring, and engagement |
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CustomizationCustomization is possible mainly through adjusting template settings and through the organization of forums and topics. For more information see the New Forum/Topic and Template Settings section of the OWL Documentation Forums Page |
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Learning AnalyticsForum posts can be monitored and/or graded. For more information see the Monitoring/Grading Forums section of the OWL Documentation Forums Page |
Cognitive Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s)Depending on how the Forums Tool is configured (with consideration given to design, facilitation, and direction from instructor), it can enable functional improvement to engagement in the targeted cognitive task(s). See Eight Tips for Facilitating Effective Online Discussion Forums |
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Higher Order ThinkingDepending on how the Forums Tool is configured and facilitated, it may engage students in higher order thinking skills. See three examples detailed in this Faculty Focus Article |
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Feedback on LearningThrough grading and response features, instructors could provide students with feedback on their engagement with the Forums Tool. Limited functionality for students to track their own posts or monitor improvement over time. |
Security and Privacy
This tool has been formally reviewed by Western’s Technology Risk Assessment Committee
Security and Privacy Flags
Information Collection
- Application collects information that could identify the user specifically (email address, class schedule, etc..)
EULA
- Application's Terms of Conditions or End User License Agreement poses a risk of binding the institution to an agreement thereby requiring legal counsel to review the application. However, this is mitigated as it has undergone legal review during the Technology Risk Assessment process.
Last Updated: September 16, 2020
Rubric
The eLearning Toolkit Evaluations are made available under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence
Feedback
Leave feedback to comment or request that the tool be re-reviewed
Topic at a Glance
The Forums tool allows instructors and students to communicate amongst themselves asynchronously in response to topics of discussion.
The Forums tool's permission settings can give a wide range of access to all participants, or can be restricted to grant particular permissions for specific functions.
