Forums Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the forums?

You can enter the forums by clicking Forums at the upper right corner of your screen. You can also click Ask & Answer to the left of your screen, or click a forum title in the Community Forums box in the lower right corner of your screen.

What's the difference between a forum and a course discussion?

When you click Forums at the upper right corner of your screen, you will enter a forums area divided into several topic areas. When you enroll for a free course, each course has its own course discussion group. Both forums and course discussion groups are moderated by instructors who are Atkins experts, so you will always be able to ask questions.

How do the community forums work?

The Atkins community forums give you the ability to interact with all the other community members. You must be registered as an Atkins Community member to participate in community forums.

You can enter the forums by clicking Forums at the upper right corner of your screen. You can also click Ask & Answer to the left of your screen, or click a forum title in the Community Forums box in the lower right corner of your screen.

Browse the topics started by other users by clicking on a title, or click the Post New Topic button at the top of the forum. Choose a subject, choose what Forum to post to, type your message, and click Preview to see how your message will look. Click Post when you're satisfied with your message.

How do I read my messages? How do I reply?

To read a particular message, click the message topic. A new page opens that shows the full text of the message, as well as all related replies. From this screen, you can either write a reply or return to the main forum.

To reply to a message, click Post and type your reply in the Message Editor form. Once you have completed your message, click Preview to review your message before posting. If your message looks correct, click Post. To revise your reply, click Edit.

How do I post a new message to a forum?

To post a message, click Post New Topic, enter out the subject and the forum you wish to post on, then write your message. Once you have completed your message, click Preview to review your message before posting. If your message looks correct, click Post. To cancel your message, click Cancel.

How was I assigned the name that appears in the Author column when I post a message?

The name that appears in the Author column when you post a message is called your User Name. By default, your User Name is the first letter of your first name followed by your last name (as entered when you registered). You may change your User Name at any time by following these steps:

1. Click Profile in the blue Welcome box at the upper right of your screen.
2. Click Edit your personal profile.
3. Scroll down to the Change Your Public Profile section. Follow the instructions on the page to make the changes.

How do I search the forums using key words and phrases?

Enter your search terms in the Search box underneath the Post New Topic button, and click Search.

How long will it take for the instructor or moderator to answer my question?

Our instructors and moderators review the discussion forums at least every other day, so you should receive a response within that timeframe after posting your question. However, if other students have already answered your question correctly, the instructor or moderator may not provide an additional response to the duplicate question.

How do I rate a post on forums and course discussions?

You can rate posts as Helpful or Atkins-Savvy on the forums and course discussions. When you are viewing a topic the bottom of each post will ask you if the post was helpful or Atkins-savvy. Simply click Helpful or Atkins-Savvy to share what you thought of the post. Tagging posts lets you express your opinion as well as help others who may be browsing the forum for the first time.

How do I report abuse on the forums and course discussions?

Each post in the Atkins and forums and course discussions has a Flag as Inappropriate link. If you see profanity, spam or any other violation of the Terms of Service, please click the Flag as Inappropriate link to let us know.

What does "This post is under review" mean?

This means that another user has already flagged this post as inappropriate. The post is under review by our moderators and will be locked until the review is complete.

Can't find an answer to your question in the FAQ? Contact us for e-mail support.