Session 1: Forums as you see them

Introduction

Welcome to Session 1 of this free course which aims to build your confidence in getting involved when using online learning forums.

In this, the first of four study sessions, you will start to consider how you feel about using online learning forums – no matter whether you already have experience of using them. You’ll consider whether you feel – or would feel – more excited or more anxious about posting to online learning forums, and you will see examples of what some Open University students have said about them. You will also begin to consider some of the benefits of getting involved on online learning forums for you as a learner.

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• understand where you are starting from when using online learning forums
• describe the likely purpose(s) of online learning forums
• describe some ways in which getting involved on online learning forums can help your learning.

Session 1 starts with a short reflective quiz. You will reflect on your experience of using online learning forums and then consider both the possible benefits and the problems involved in using them.