Overview
Proserva includes asynchronous discussion forums as a native lesson type. Instructors add them to any course module directly from the Syllabus tab when building or editing a course. Discussions encourage peer interaction, collaborative learning, and reflective practice — all within the structured flow of a course.
Public vs. Private Discussions
Proserva offers two distinct discussion modes to fit different instructional goals:
Public Discussions
Visible to all course participants. These are open forum-style spaces where students can:
Ask questions and get answers from peers or instructors
Share thoughts, resources, and experiences
Engage in debates and collaborative problem-solving
Build community within a cohort
Public discussions work well for cohort-based programs, discussion prompts tied to course content, and peer learning activities.
Private Discussions
Student responses are visible only to the instructor. These are designed for:
Personal reflections on course material
Learning journals and self-assessment
Sensitive topics where students need a safe space
One-on-one check-ins between instructor and student
Confidential feedback or coaching conversations embedded in coursework
Private discussions give instructors a way to have individualized dialogue with each student without exposing those conversations to the rest of the class.
Organization Within Courses
Discussions live inside course modules, which means they benefit from all of Proserva's course structuring tools:
Module-level organization: discussions are naturally grouped by topic and sequence. A module on "Classroom Management" can include a discussion right after the instructional content on that topic.
Multiple discussions per module: you can have several discussion forums in a single module — e.g., a public debate and a private reflection journal covering the same material.
Progressive reveal: modules can be locked behind prerequisites or scheduled release dates. Discussions only become available when the instructor wants them to.
Draft/publish workflow: discussions can be saved as draft while building the course, then published when ready. Learners never see draft content.
Lesson locking: a discussion can be locked until a student completes a prerequisite lesson or assignment, ensuring they've engaged with the material before joining the conversation.
Creating a Discussion
Instructors add discussions through the course builder:
Navigate to Course Content (or Syllabus) in the course manager.
Click Add Content and choose a discussion lesson type.
Give it a title and instructions (e.g., prompts, expectations, word count guidance).
Choose Public or Private visibility.
Optionally attach files, embed videos, or add resource links alongside the discussion prompt.
Save as draft or publish immediately.
Moderation & Facilitation
Instructor-led: instructors can post, reply, and guide the conversation directly within the discussion thread. They can model good responses, redirect off-topic threads, and keep discussions productive.
Peer-led: in public discussions, students can respond to each other without the instructor driving every exchange. This enables organic peer learning and reduces facilitation burden.
Grading: discussions can be configured as gradable activities. Participation appears in the course gradebook, and instructors can assign points or rubric scores.
Threaded replies: the discussion interface supports threaded responses, keeping sub-conversations organized.
Asynchronous by Design
Because discussions are embedded in self-paced or scheduled courses, they are inherently asynchronous. Students participate on their own timeline within the course structure — no need to coordinate live meeting times. This is especially valuable for working professionals in educator development programs who need flexibility.
Learner Experience
Students see discussions in their course outline alongside other lesson types. They can read the prompt, view any embedded media, compose their response using the rich text editor, and optionally attach files. Responses from peers appear below (in public mode) for continued engagement. Students receive in-app notifications when someone replies to their post or when an instructor responds.