What you'll need to know ahead of time:

• What type of forum will be used?
• Will posts be anonymous?
• Will users be expected to attach files to posts?
• Will posts be rated, and if so, how will ratings be aggregated?<
• Should users be able to subscribe to the posts or keep track of which posts have been read?

Forum Settings: General:

• Select the appropriate “forum type”
• Standard forum displayed in a blog-like format [default] - An open forum where anyone can start a new discussion at any time, and in which topics are displayed on one page with “Discuss this topic” links.
• A single simple discussion - A single discussion topic which everyone can post replies to. Cannot be used with separate groups.
• Each person posts one discussion - Each student can post exactly one new discussion topic, which everyone can then reply to.
• Q and A forum - Students must first post their perspectives before viewing other students’ posts. Once students have posted their answer, they may read and reply to other students' posts.
• Standard forum for general use - An open forum where anyone can start a new discussion at any time.

Attachments and word count:

• Choose maximum number of file attachments
• Select whether or not the word count will be displayed

Subscription and tracking:

• Choose subscription mode.
• Optional - each user decides if they will receive emails when others post to the forum.
• Forced - everyone receives emails and cannot unsubscribe.
• Auto - everyone is subscribed initially but can choose to unsubscribe
• Disabled - subscriptions are not allowed.
• Select whether or not users can track read and unread posts

Ratings: Use options here to select how posts will be rated. The aggregate type defines how ratings are combined to form the final grade in the gradebook.

• Average of ratings: the mean of all ratings
• Count of ratings: the number of rated items becomes the final grade. Note that the total for all ratings cannot exceed the maximum grade for the activity.
• Maximum: the highest rating becomes the final grade.
• Minimum: the smallest rating becomes the final grade.
• Sum: all ratings are added together. Note that the total for all ratings cannot exceed the maximum grade for the activity.