Understanding Topic Modes

Topic modes are used to manage the way the data contained within an agenda Topic is viewed and accessed. Each Topic in your agenda can pass through several modes as you brainstorm and discuss ideas, organize ideas into themes or categories, vote for and debate priorities and come to final decisions and build action plans. Subsequent sections discuss how to move a Topic from brainstorming to voting to results. The most commonly used Topic modes are underlined and only these topic modes are available to Express and ExpressPlus facilitators. Topic modes marked with an asterisk (*) may be added for Express and ExpressPlus facilitators in the Language Profile settings by an administrator. Pro facilitators have access to the full set of Topic modes.

	Brainstorm Mode Most Topics start in Brainstorm mode. Brainstorm is the basic idea generation screen with a space for adding ideas and a shared electronic flip chart. Ideas are sorted by Category (if used) and then newest to oldest. This is the default Topic mode.
	Brainstorm - Personal List* Participants see only their own ideas in the electronic flip chart.
	Brainstorm - No Group List* Participants add ideas but do not see the electronic flip chart.
	Brainstorm - Moderated* Facilitator approves ideas before they are seen by all in the electronic flip chart.
	Brainstorm Group Chat This mode gives you a split screen with a comment area on the top and a list of comments on the bottom that refreshes automatically. Use this mode for quick-paced conversations similar to a live chat room.
	Brainstorm - Group Chat/Edit Participants chat; facilitators can edit ideas in the brainstorm mode.
	Brainstorm - Group Chat/QC Participants chat; facilitators can categorize using the QuickCat tool.
	Brainstorm - Action Plan This mode allows you to document action items with specific details about who's responsible and start and end dates. Items are sorted by Start Date.
	Brainstorm - Quick Cat This is a facilitator only option that allows you to create Category buckets and drag and drop ideas into them. The brainstorm flip chart reorganizes into these Category headings.
	Brainstorm - Quick Cat - Personal* After an initial brainstorm of ideas, participants drag and drop the ideas that they initiated into category buckets set up by the facilitators. Facilitators remain in the brainstorm mode.
	Survey Editor Survey set up mode for Facilitators.
	Vote All Users Topics automatically switch to the mode Vote All Users as the facilitator distributes ballots, presenting the flip chart of ideas ready for voting or prioritizing. Ideas are sorted by Category (if used) and Item Number.
	Vote - Facilitator Views Results This mode allows a facilitator to view and tabulate votes behind the scenes while the participants are still voting. Use this mode for voting or surveys over an extended period of time.
	Vote - Facilitator Edit Facilitators can edit in brainstorm mode while vote is live. Need to redistribute ballots (and update ballots) for edits to show up in the voting screen.
	Vote - Then View Results Everyone votes; when a ballot is submitted, next time everyone sees results.
	Results Table Results modes show everyone the voting results. This mode displays a table of voting scores; use this mode if you have more than one voting criterion. Ideas are usually set to sort by Category (if used) and then by voting results.
	Results Graphed This mode displays the voting results with a graphical bar representing the average score for each item. Ideas are usually set to sort by Category (if used) and then by voting results.
	Results - Self vs. Group Participants see their scores compared to group scores.
	Results - Self vs. Group (All) Participants and facilitators see their scores compared to group scores
	Closed - All Users Topic is closed to facilitators and participants. Not included in printed reports.
	Closed - Non-Facilitators This mode allows you to remove the Topic from view on the participants' agenda while keeping the Topic available to facilitators in brainstorm mode.