Activity Feed Views: Teaching Members to Navigate and Engage
The Activity Feed View is how members experience, navigate, and interact with Study Hall content. This guide will help you teach your Campus members how to effectively read, filter, and engage with Study Hall Activity Feeds.
Knowing how to navigate feeds transforms passive scrollers into active participants.
Understanding Feed View Options
Most campus platforms offer multiple ways to view and filter Activity Feed content:
List View vs. Grid View
List View (Default):
- Posts appear in a vertical stream
- Shows full post text, images, and engagement metrics
- Like scrolling through a social media timeline
- Best for reading and detailed engagement
Grid View:
- Posts appear as cards or tiles
- Shows post previews with thumbnails
- More visual, scanning-friendly layout
- Best for browsing and discovering content
Teaching Tip for 45+ Audience: List View is like reading a newspaper column-by-column. Grid View is like looking at a photo album. Choose based on whether you want to read deeply or scan quickly.
Feed Filtering and Sorting
Guide members to customize what they see in the feed:
Sort Options
Recent (Chronological):
- Shows newest posts first
- Nothing gets buried
- Great for active Study Halls where you want to see everything
Popular (Engagement-Based):
- Shows posts with most comments, reactions, and activity
- Surfaces "hot" discussions
- Great for busy Study Halls where you want highlights
Recommended (Personalized):
- Algorithm suggests content based on your past engagement
- Helps discover relevant discussions you might miss
- Great for large Study Halls with diverse topics
Content Type Filters
Help members filter feeds by content type:
- All Posts: Everything in the feed
- Discussions: Text-based conversations only
- Media: Posts with images, videos, or files
- Polls: Voting questions only
- Announcements: Admin/Moderator announcements
Use Case: A member checking in quickly might filter for "Announcements" to catch important updates, then switch to "All Posts" when they have more time.
Reading and Navigating Posts
Teach members how to interact with individual feed items:
Post Anatomy
Every post in the feed contains:
- Author Info: Name, profile picture, member role badge
- Post Content: Text, images, videos, or polls
- Engagement Metrics: Number of likes/reactions and comments
- Timestamp: When the post was created
- Action Buttons: Like, comment, share, more options
Expanding Collapsed Posts
Long posts are often truncated with a "Read More" or "See More" button:
- Click to expand and read the full post
- Useful for scanning without getting overwhelmed
- Expanded posts can be collapsed again by clicking "Show Less"
Opening Posts in Full View
Members can click on any post to open it in full-screen view:
- See complete post content
- Read all comments without scrolling the main feed
- Access more options (share, edit if owner, report, etc.)
- Return to feed by clicking Back or closing the modal
Teaching Tip: Full view is like opening an email to read it completely vs. seeing it in your inbox preview.
Engagement Actions Members Can Take
Reactions and Likes
Members can react to posts with:
- Simple like/upvote
- Emoji reactions (if enabled)
- Shows appreciation without requiring a full comment
When to Teach Reactions:
- For quick acknowledgment: "I saw this and agree"
- To show support without words
- To signal interest in a topic
Commenting on Posts
Guide members to leave thoughtful comments:
- Click "Comment" button below any post
- Type response in the comment field
- Tag other members with @ mentions if relevant
- Add media to comments if supported
- Post comment for everyone to see
Best Practices to Teach:
- Add value—don’t just say "Great post"
- Ask follow-up questions
- Share related experiences
- Be encouraging and constructive
- Proofread before posting
Sharing Posts
Members can share posts:
- Within the same Study Hall (bumps to top of feed)
- To other Study Halls they’re part of
- Via direct message to specific members
- Via external link (if Study Hall is public)
Use Case: "This discussion in our Beginner Study Hall would be valuable for the Advanced Study Hall members too."
Member Post Management
Teach members how to manage their own posts:
Editing Posts
Members can edit their own posts after publishing:
- Click three-dot menu on their post
- Select "Edit Post"
- Make changes
- Save updated post
Note: Edited posts typically show an "Edited" tag with timestamp
When to Edit:
- Fix typos or unclear wording
- Add additional context after feedback
- Update with new information
- Correct factual errors
Deleting Posts
Members can delete their own posts:
- Click three-dot menu
- Select "Delete Post"
- Confirm deletion
Important: Deletion is usually permanent. Comments and reactions are lost along with the post.
When to Delete:
- Posted in wrong Study Hall
- Contained sensitive info shared accidentally
- No longer relevant or accurate
- Duplicate post created by mistake
Notification Settings for Feed Activity
Help members control how they’re notified about feed updates:
Types of Notifications
Members typically receive notifications for:
- New posts in Study Halls they’re members of
- Comments on their posts
- Reactions to their posts or comments
- Mentions (@username) in posts or comments
- Replies to their comments
Customizing Notification Preferences
Guide members to adjust notification settings:
- All Activity: Notified about every post and comment
- Mentions and Replies Only: Only when directly addressed
- Important Only: Admin announcements and pinned posts
- None: Turn off all Study Hall notifications
Location: Usually in Profile Settings → Notifications or Study Hall Settings → Notifications
Teaching Tip for 45+ Audience: Start with moderate notification settings. Members can always increase or decrease based on their comfort level and Study Hall activity volume.
Mobile vs. Desktop Feed Experience
Prepare members for different device experiences:
Desktop/Laptop View
Advantages:
- Wider screen shows more content at once
- Easier to type longer posts and comments
- Multiple tabs allow browsing other resources simultaneously
- Better for deep reading and detailed engagement
Best For: Creating content, in-depth discussions, research-heavy posts
Mobile/Tablet View
Advantages:
- Access feed anywhere, anytime
- Quick check-ins during downtime
- Easy photo/video uploads from camera roll
- Push notifications for immediate awareness
Best For: Quick engagement, scrolling during commutes, sharing photos, brief comments
Teaching Point: Most 45+ members will engage from both devices. Encourage them to find their rhythm—maybe they browse on mobile but comment from desktop.
Feed Accessibility Features
Ensure all members can effectively use the feed:
Text Size Adjustment
Most browsers and platforms allow:
- Zoom in/out (Ctrl/Cmd + or -)
- Dedicated text size settings
- High contrast modes for visibility
Screen Reader Compatibility
For members using assistive technology:
- Most platforms support screen readers
- Alt text on images improves accessibility
- Keyboard navigation shortcuts often available
Media Alternatives
Encourage posters to:
- Add captions to videos
- Provide text summaries of image content
- Use descriptive link text instead of "click here"
Teaching Members Effective Feed Habits
Daily Feed Check-In Routine
Suggest this simple routine:
- Scan: Quickly scroll through to see what’s new (2 minutes)
- React: Like or react to posts you appreciate (1 minute)
- Engage: Comment on 1-2 posts where you have something to add (5 minutes)
- Post: Share your own update, question, or resource (3 minutes)
Total Time: 10-15 minutes daily creates strong engagement without overwhelm.
Managing Feed Overwhelm
For busy Study Halls, teach:
- Check feed at designated times (morning and evening) rather than constantly
- Use filters to see only content types you care about
- Focus on Recent posts from last 24 hours instead of trying to catch up on everything
- Turn off notifications for lower-priority Study Halls
Feed Etiquette to Teach
Post Thoughtfully
Encourage:
- Clear, descriptive titles/opening lines
- Proper paragraph breaks for readability
- Relevant content to the Study Hall topic
- Questions that invite discussion
Discourage:
- All-caps posting (feels like shouting)
- Excessive self-promotion
- Off-topic rambling
- Posting same content in multiple Study Halls (cross-posting spam)
Comment Constructively
Encourage:
- Supportive and encouraging tone
- Building on others’ ideas
- Asking clarifying questions
- Sharing relevant experiences
Discourage:
- Criticism without solutions
- Hijacking threads to make it about yourself
- Arguing just to argue
- Ignoring what others already said
Activity Feed Views and Campus Transformation
Effective feed navigation drives transformation:
Phase 2 (Community Building):
- Members who master navigation engage more
- Filtering helps members find relevant connections
- Comfortable navigation reduces intimidation
Phase 3 (Engagement Ecosystem):
- Efficient feed use means members engage more frequently
- Customization options increase perceived value
- Multiple view options serve different learning styles
Phase 4 (Transformation Engine):
- Deep feed engagement enables peer teaching
- Members who navigate well become guides for others
- Comfortable posters share vulnerable transformation stories
Need Help? If you have questions about Activity Feed Views, contact our support team.