There are several tools you can use. Some tools are completely anonymous, neither the tutor or fellow students will know who asked the question. Others are partially anonymous, the tutor will know who asked the question, but fellow students won’t.
This article outlines some of the tools you can use, and their pros and cons.
Completely anonymous
Neither the tutor or fellow students will know who asked the question.
Embed a Padlet in Moodle
When you create your Padlet make sure Attribution is turned Off so that posts are made anonymously.
See our guidance on setting up a Padlet and including it in your Moodle course: Top ten essential Padlet at Brookes
Pros
Good for both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Students can see all questions, not just their own. And questions are viewed immediatley.
Cons
The tutor needs to have a Padlet account. How to request a Brookes Padlet licence.
QuAK app
You can set up a forum in Moodle so that students can ask a question anonymously using the QuAK app. The name of the forum must always start with a prefix “Question forum – “.
Guidance on setting up the forum and how to use QuAK: How can I set up a forum so students can ask a question anonymously using QuAK?
Pros
Good for asynchronous Q&A forums. Students can see all questions, not just their own.
Cons
Student must ask their question via the QuAK app.
Google Slides Q&A
Google Slides: Whilst you are presenting, students can ask questions anonymously.
Pros
Good to use during a synchronous session. Students can see all questions, not just their own. And questions are viewed immediatley. Good if you are already using Google Slides for lectures.
Cons
Once you stop presentating the questions are no longer visible to the students. Although it is possible to view the Q&A history from the Tools menu of the Slides file.
Moodle Feedback activity
The Feedback activity in Moodle can be configured to be anonymous. When setting up a Feedback activity choose Record user names: Anonymous.
Pros
Only the tutor sees the questions. Good if a tutor would like to reflect on students’ questions and formulate responses ahead of a seminar or assessment briefing.
Cons
Only the tutor will see the questions. So the students don’t get to see what kind of questions other students are asking.
Partly anonymous
The tutor will know who asked the question, but fellow students won’t.
Moodle Forum NG activity
The Forum NG activity in Moodle can be configured so that posts are private between the individual student and the tutor. When setting up a Forum NG activity choose the Forum type: Study advice (only see own discussions).
Pros
Tutors can reply to the individual student. The discussion thread is saved, and can be revisted by the student and the tutor.
Cons
Only the tutor will see the question. So the students don’t get to see what kind of questions other students are asking.