Moderated Course Discussion
Design a cohort discussion space where facilitators can address harassment, misinformation, and off-topic conflict transparently.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
Cohort conversations improve peer learning, but unclear moderation can silence disagreement or let harmful behavior persist. Students need norms, proportionate interventions, and an appeal route.
User context
Facilitator Ben manages a global public-health course. A discussion about policy includes a factual dispute, a personal insult, and several useful replies that should remain visible.
Product problem
Moderators need to intervene at the right level while preserving legitimate discussion and explaining actions to affected members.
Objective
Create discussion participation, report review, scoped moderation, and appeal states for a course cohort.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Review norms before joining a discussion
- Report a specific post with context
- Let a facilitator warn, label, limit, or remove content
- Notify affected members and support an appeal
Screens and states
- Cohort discussion
- Report submission
- Moderator case review
- Action and appeal
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
A learner reports the personal insult rather than the entire thread
- 02
Ben reviews the post, conversation context, and prior actions
- 03
He removes the insult, labels the disputed claim with sources, and keeps useful replies
- 04
The author receives the rationale and an appeal deadline
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Anchor reports to specific content and policy sections
- Preserve context and moderator evidence privately
- Support proportionate actions with duration and rationale
- Show public thread states without revealing reporter identity
Constraints
- Moderators cannot edit a member's words
- Private learner information must be redacted from case views
- Appeals require a reviewer other than the original decision-maker where possible
Reality check
States worth considering
Ready-to-use content
Mock data
Use this content to test hierarchy and realistic data states. You can expand it when the concept needs more depth.
Moderation signals
- Personal attack
- Unsupported factual claim
- Off-topic promotion
- Private information
Possible actions
- No action
- Context label
- Written warning
- Temporary posting limit
- Content removal
Finish line
What to deliver
- Four responsive screens with visible and moderator-only outcomes
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.
Playfair Display & Source Sans Pro
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.
Playfair Display & Source Sans Pro
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.