New Active Forums Block

New Active Forums Block

by Siau Meng Nyam -
Number of replies: 11
This post has been post on Forum module. Posting here again is hoping to get more respond.

Screenshot of blockI had created a new Active Forums Block which allows users to view forum activity in a tag cloud. The most active discussions will be displayed bold and large while less active discussions are less prominent. This will help users to differentiate and track the discussion activity over a certain period. The block links directly to the active discussions.

Teachers can configure:
  • the block name (to allow multiple instances of the Active Forums block),
  • how many days of activity to display, and
  • a few other settings.
Please help by trying out this block. The block has been created as the product of a research project so I would also appreciate your answers to the following questions. You can post your responses here or email them to me at w0073343@umail.usq.edu.au.
  1. Do you believe poor feedback and lack of communication can discourage students who are engaging in forums?
  2. Do you believe students can become lost in forums when they browse?
  3. What do you think of the current Moodle Forum activity?
  4. What impact can forums have on interaction between teachers and students?
  5. Will online discussion in forums replace face-to-face interaction in education?
  6. Did you find the Active Forums block simple to understand and use?
  7. Do you think the Active Forums block will draw students into discussions?
  8. Will the Active Forums block clarify forum discussion activity?
If you have any questions, suggestions or problems just let me know.

Nyam.
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In reply to Siau Meng Nyam

Re: New Active Forums Block

by Joachim Vogelgesang - 
Hi Nyam,

I´ve installed your new 'Active Forums Block' in my test environment
Moodle 1.9.9 on MAMP PHP 5.2.11;
seems working fine, but 'results' appear outside the block.

Joachim
Attachment active_forums_block.png
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In reply to Joachim Vogelgesang

Re: New Active Forums Block

by Nadav Kavalerchik -
Picture of Core developers Picture of Plugin developers Picture of Testers Picture of Translators
This what solved the same issue on my server...
Inside the block's folder, open the file styles.php
and add the following code at the end of the file:

div.tagcloud {
color:#333333;
float:none;
font-size:100%;
padding:0px;
width:auto;
}
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In reply to Siau Meng Nyam

Re: New Active Forums Block

by Michael de Raadt -
Hi Joachim,

I'm Nyam's research supervisor.

That behaviour sounds odd. Try it again but by-pass your cache when you refresh (shift+F5). Moodle does not force styles to be updated for new blocks for up to a few days.

If that is still a problem, I suggest you send the source HTML from your browser to Nyam to examine to see if this is a bug.

If you get it going, or even if you don't, I encourage you to answer the questions as they are important to the research Nyam is doing on conjunction with this block.

Michael;
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In reply to Michael de Raadt

Re: New Active Forums Block

by Joachim Vogelgesang -
Hi Michael & Nyam,

I´ve tried as you suggested even with other brothers (normally with Firefox 3.6.7 on Mac) Safari, Opera. Same result.

Joachim
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In reply to Siau Meng Nyam

Re: New Active Forums Block

by Nadav Kavalerchik -
Picture of Core developers Picture of Plugin developers Picture of Testers Picture of Translators
Beautiful block ! Thanks smile

Here is a link to the Hebrew translation of the block.
Enjoy smile
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In reply to Nadav Kavalerchik

Re: New Active Forums Block

by nita mehra -

I want to show active forum block on frontpage of site....bt this block comes only on course page...how can i show this block on front page??

plzz help

thanx

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