Discussion forums

What are they?

An internet discussion forum is an facility that allows people to hold discussions with each other by means of messages posted on the web.

Discussion forums are also commonly referred to as internet forums, web forums, message boards, discussion boards, discussion groups, bulletin boards, fora (the Latin plural) or simply forums.

Why have one?

A discussion forum allow visitors to your website to exchange ideas, pose questions, offer answers, or offer help on relevant subjects. It can be a very valuable means of offering support and enabling 'self-help'.

Sometimes people who are not confident seeking support, information or advice in person or over the telephone find they can communicate comfortably via a discussion board.

Some things to think about

  • Who would be able to look at your discussion forum and who would be able to contribute to it? Would they need to register to do so?
  • Do you have some people within your organisation who have the skills, the motivation and the time to 'moderate' the discussion board?
  • Would contributors be anonymous?
  • How would you ensure that any contributors desperate for help or support get a response?

What do we offer?

We can help you think through all the factors involved in running a discussion forum.

If you decide to go ahead, we can set it up and administer it for you.

We can provide your forum moderators with training.

" Discussion boards can be used in many ways...you can join and read forums at any time convenient to you, catching up with messages already posted. You can reply at once, or go away and think about your answer before coming back to reply; or indeed, as in a real discussion, you can simply listen without contributing at all."

The Higher Education Academy

Check out an example of a discussion forum at Justgiving