ola, I have a vague memory that this has to do with "membership" or role of the front page. Something like "default role".
Others can comment further maybe.
-Derek
Hi Derek,
Thanks for your input, but I wasn't sure how to make use of it Im afraid! What it did lead me to do though was check the permissions on the front page, and students currently DO have permission to 'start new discussions'. So again, not quite sure what to do!
Ola,
Usually on the front page, students are not students. They get that role assigned in their courses. This way instructors can be students in a professional development course but teachers in their own courses. On the front page of a Moodle, everyone has an authenticated user role. Some modules can be set up with permissions so they will work on the front page with Authenticated User given permissions, but some (especially quizzes) haven't seemed to work that way. Not sure about forums. You can try adding that role to your forum and see if it works.
Hope that helps.
