Unit forum
The unit forum for Maths and you is an area where you can share your ideas and thoughts about the unit and potentially build a support network with other learners who are studying the unit at the same time as you. In addition, some of the unit’s activities will ask you to post to the unit forum.
While you do not have to participate in the forum and can just review the comments, if you do participate you will potentially build up an additional support network of people that are studying this unit at the same time as you. This means that you can share your thoughts and experience, and encourage each other.
There are a number of limitations in a forum that you do not always encounter when talking to someone face-to-face, because other people will not be able to see your expression or hear the tone of your voice – so what and how you write becomes important. Some useful tips are:
- Keep to the subject, and pick the right discussion thread for your contribution.
- Before you write a message, take time to see what is being discussed and think about your reply.
- Try to keep messages short.
- Write a good subject line (title) for your message – people often haven’t time to read messages unless the subject line looks relevant.
- Keep to one subject (one topic of discussion) per message.
- When replying to a message, only quote part of the earlier message if you need to. Don’t include everything, or messages get longer and longer.
- Don’t be discouraged if you receive no acknowledgments – however, we would encourage you to thank and acknowledge those who have commented, in order to encourage them and others to particpate.
- If you disagree with a point that has been made, acknowledge the point before stating why you disagree.
- Make your perspective clear, but try to avoid speaking impersonally, to encourage debate.
- Clearly show your emotions – people can’t see faces and body language, so the use of smileys or emoticons such as :- ) or :- ( can be a useful way to get your emotion across.
- If you read something that offends or upsets you, it might be tempting to fire back a hurried response. Please don’t do this. Instead, take time to think about your response before replying – or, if you feel it is appropriate, report the comment to the OpenLearn team.
- AND FINALLY, DON’T WRITE IN CAPITAL LETTERS – IT WILL LOOK LIKE YOU’RE SHOUTING!