News Forum
NOTE: We suggest that you print this page for reference.
The News Forum provides a place to make announcements and report general news related to the course. For example, the instructor can post information about developments in Congress in this forum. It is an interactive feature, so we encourage students to respond to postings or to begin their own discussion threads—it’s a great way to share tips about completing the course assignments.
Once you have entered the course (see Enrollment Instructions), you will see a section called Latest News in the top right-hand corner of the course page. That box will contain the most recent forum post. It's here that you can reply to the post, add a new forum topic, or look at previous forum topics (see Demo 1). By the way, students can also enter the forum by scrolling down to the bottom of the course and clicking on Topic 4: News forum (see Demo 2).
If you want to reply to the posted message . . . First, click on the message itself (see Demo 3). The full message will appear, and you will have the choice to edit, delete, or reply. By selecting Reply (see Demo 4), you will be able to enter text into a reply box. Notice the helpful guidance indicated by question marks to the left of the reply box. You may also add an attachment. Post your message by selecting Post to forum at the bottom of the page (see Demo 5).
If you want to start a new topic . . . You can add new discussion topics by clicking the Add a new topic button in either the Latest News box on the course’s main page (see Demo 6) or within the news forum (see Demo 7). A new page will open allowing you to enter a subject and text for posting. Attachments can also be included (optional) by clicking the Browse button below the text box. To post the message, click the Post to forum button (see Demo 8).
If you want to look at older topics . . . Again from the Congress in the Classroom® Online main page, click on Older topics (see Demo 9). You will see a page with a banner reading General news and announcements (see Demo 10). Older posts are listed by title below the Discussion heading. Students can learn more about the person who started a post and read their profile by clicking on the name below Started by. Any number of students can reply to individual posts, and those replies can be read by clicking on the number below Replies. The name of the student who made the last post can be found under Last post along with the date and time the student made the post.
All subscribers to a forum will receive an email each time a new post has been made or new discussion has started (see Demo 11).
* Need Help? *
Using the drop-down found in the top right-hand corner, jump to Online Users.
To return to the course introductory page, click on Moodle found in the blue naviagtion bar at the top.