Using Moodle VLE forums for Literacy

Literacy and Forums - Collaborative learning ?.

I have used the Moodle VLE forums in my first year of teaching to try to improve my learners collaborations and communications skills.

Using forums could be of benefit as it provides a safe and open environment for discussion and exploration of concepts, knowledge and collaborative working with out the formality of group session work, that some student scan find intimidating.

They can provide a communication channel for learners to dip in and out of and provide direction and help informally. There is no pressure to use the forums, but being collaborative in my sector is an important attribute of the learners moving forward into industry.

To set up a forum we do the following.

Go to the page you wish to insert a forum in.

Ensure your are editing the page click

Go to the block on the page you want to insert the forum into.

Add an activity of type Forum

I selected Standard forum but you can choose other and experiment with how they work.

Ensure your learners auto subscribe.

I did not use the other options below this as I do not wish to grade their responses but your could do this and use this for assessment purposes.

Then choose save and return to your VLE Page

Your Forum should then appear on the page like this.

When you click on the link the following are examples of what should appear.

Learners can create new discussion threads

or reply to

I will be using this tool a lot more next year and ensuring my learners actually use it.

With regards the minimum core:

• Using this in session will aid my ability to assess learners current in time progression, along with queries and discussions that come out of the threads posted or replied to.

• It can provide an inclusive environment as learners are in control of what they do and how they present the discussions or replies. I can track if this option is used what was said and grade responses accordingly providing feedback on the response.

• Using this forum tool not only allows learners to practice their communications skills but this also allows for a social media type of interaction so much used now in the wider social environments of industry, or skills for life. This allows for interpreting written text, through reading, and allowing learners to communicate via a written process enhancing and developing the spelling an grammar of the learner. Using an online forum or blog can aid the developing of researching as the forum is a tool for knowledge acquisition through applying a previously learned knowledge to aid or support others collaboratively.

• Using and reflecting a range of materials in the forum and the wider internet to form opinions and further discussion.

• Value to the learner, applying this type of interaction is more readily being used in the industry and demonstrating and increase the confidence.

• This can influence and increase confidence across the learning programme through the use of transferable skills.

Theory of why forums are a good tool (my perspective).

1) Flow Theory (Csikszentmihalvi) - Using a forum allows the learners to be in control, there is a clear objective with the posts, addresses and uses skills levels appropriately. distractions are reduced.
2) Path-Goal Theory(House and Mitchell) - Forum posts can be set to achieve a given goal, is directive, supportive, participative, achievement orientated.
3) Self-Determination Theory  (Deci and Ryan) - Competence, autonomy and relatedness providing motivation.

1. True "flow" requires a dynamic process in which online, Forum usage in this instance, learners meet individual challenges while learning new skills. 
2. Utilizing the Path-Goal theory in eLearning, forums usage in this case,  requires you to encourage learners to meet specific goals. You must provide incremental information to guide learning
3. The focus on self-determination allows the learner to perform out of interest and clearly established goals. Internal motivation comes from within the learner and is connected to the understanding that the learning is beneficial and meaningful.

Referance : http://info.shiftelearning.com/blog/bid/340354/Designing-for-Motivation-Three-Theories-eLearning-Designers-Can-Use