Using Groups and Forums for Private Group and/or Public Discussion

To engage in a specific discussion about a particular topic, we invite you to use Groups and Forums. Groups can be public or private, then you can add forum topics to the group, thus making the forum discussion public or private.

Watch the attached video for detailed instructions, or follow the steps below to get started.

ADDING A GROUP (PUBLIC OR PRIVATE!)

  1. Once logged in to graduationtown.org, click on CONTRIBUTE CONTENT at the very top right near your user profile image.
  2. Select GROUP, then name your group and add a description of the group and a welcome message to send to group members.
  3. Make sure to CAREFULLY opt in (check) or out (uncheck) of whether your group is listed in the site-wide groups directory and whether GradTown users can sign up for your group when they register on the site. For private groups, UNCHECK both boxes.
  4. Under MEMBERSHIP REQUESTS towards the end of the page, carefully select how you as the group moderator want to handle group members - is this a public group anyone can join? a moderated group where you approve members upon request? a group only you can invite members to (they can leave when they want to)? or a group where you add/delete members as you see fit?
  5. Make sure to click on SAVE at the bottom to save your new group!

ADDING DISCUSSION FORUMS TO YOUR GROUP

  1. Now that you have a group, click on CONTRIBUTE CONTENT again, and this time select FORUM TOPIC.
  2. Add your subject/topic/question/prompt, then make sure to select the proper AUDIENCE. You should be selecting the name of the group you just created. This ensures that ONLY members of your group see this forum topic post.
  3. Fill in the body as you see fit with more details.
  4. In the VOCABULARIES section, under GRADUATION TOWN DISCUSSION FORUMS, be sure and select GROUP FORUMS -- GROUP DISCUSSION. This will keep all your forum topic posts in the same area. If you would like a special forum created for your group, please send us an email and request a new forum to be added. The EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES section is optional.
  5. If you do not want group members to receive email notifications for this post/update, check the box in NOTIFICATIONS.
  6. Remember to hit SAVE when you are done!
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