Hi,
I'm reaching out to suggest considering replacing the Moodle forum with EdStem for the course. I believe it offers several significant advantages:
- User Experience: EdStem's modern and user-friendly interface greatly improves the user experience.
- Avoid Duplication: As users type their questions, they are shown related previous questions, helping reduce duplicates.
- Advanced Features: EdStem supports code snippets with syntax highlighting and LaTeX equations for advanced math.
- Anonymity: Students can publish questions anonymously, ensuring they feel comfortable asking without judgment. However, TAs will still be able to see who posted them.
- Widespread Acceptance: EdStem is endorsed by EPFL and is the chosen platform for most courses in the IC section. In a recent class, when the professor for computer security asked which platform students preferred, an overwhelming majority signaled their preference for Ed over Moodle.
- Email Management: With customizable email notifications, students' inboxes won't be overwhelmed.
- Scalability: As course enrollment grows, EdStem scales more effectively than the Moodle forum.
I understand the complexities involved in transitioning, but I genuinely believe that both TAs and students will find EdStem to be an invaluable tool. If there's any hesitation, perhaps a poll among the students could provide clearer insights?
Thank you for considering this suggestion.
