Moodle

Kyle - In Moodle 2.0, http://docs.moodle.org/en/Development:Conditional_activities#Conditional_availability describes the ability to restrict forums to a specific time period as well as other options (see attached screenshot). I believe that the grading could be accomplished by removing the student's ability to rate posts (this could either be done on the site level or within a particular course. In addition, I believe that an instructor could use the gradebook and override any grade brought in automatically from the forum ratings. So all of this functionality should be in Moodle 2.0. Peace - Anthony

Kyle - Here is what the conditional activity stuff will look like in 2.0

Martin - I believe this issue can be resolved as fixed for Moodle 2.0. Peace - Anthony

I think Anthony's screenshot and comment indicate that the problem might be resolved in the upcoming Moodle 2.0 release.

Just to clarify, however, does the "availability" setting in Anthony's screenshot mean that the forum content would still be viewable, but the students just wouldn't be able to make additional posts to it?

Yes, but an even nicer feature might be to allow both options: restriction from posting or restriction from viewing.

Based on the link Anthony provided it appears that the Moodle 2.0 capability is focused on viewing the activity. I know I have seen this demonstrated as being invisible to the user or simply "grayed out" for them. So that would take care of the restriction from viewing.

I'm still not sure I see specifically the ability to restrict the ability to post after a certain date. However, this is currently possible to implement using role overrides for specific activities, though there is no automatic setting to make this happen for a forum. As an example, a properly permissioned role can go into the forum on a specific date and create permission overrides for a student role to restrict their ability to post new replies or discussions. So this functionality currently does exist, though perhaps not in its "perfect" form.

Just to clarify (possibly overly clarify), we are essentially looking at having three actions for forums (at least from the student side). Those three are: Access (view/read), Post, and Rate. For each of those it sounds like folks are looking for an option to setup starting and ending times. Currently we have that for Rating, 2.0 will have it for accessing with conditional activities. It is true that you could take away the ability to post using role overrides. So for 2.0 all of these activities would be possible. I do wonder if splitting out posting is the best way to go or if we are not starting a bit of slippery slope with respect to other activities/modules. If it is accessible to the student should they not be able to actively participate in the activity (unless there is a specific role override). Practically, I understand why this is being requested but I figured I would raise the question of whether it is in theory good practice or might we be opening a bit of pandoras box. Sometimes the limitations of a system help to ensure that we as users set things up logically and well. Just a thought. I'm not sure what others might think (well at least until they comment here . Peace - Anthony

Thanks for the clarification, Anthony. For me I would think of the post concept as simply the ability for interaction (i.e. each activity, wikis, forums, glossaries all have their different ways to interact with it). I think having the ability to conditionally control each of those "states" is valuable.

One example might be a database or glossary activity, where the activity is set to run through 3 states.

It might be visible always but entries could only be able to be added during a specific timeframe or after completing a specific brainstorming or research activity. After a specific time the ability to add entries are closed, but the ability to rate/comment on the entries remains open.

For me, being able to define when those separate phases of an activity can occur gives me greater flexibility with how my students will be interacting with my course activities.

So kudos for including Post as an option, it gets my vote

NOTE: This issue was assigned to the STABLE backlog without complete triaging process. Marking it as triaged, but with this note for future reference.