Dialogforen

Dialogforen is a term that blends the German words dialog and foren (forums). It does not have a single, universally accepted definition and is not widely listed in standard dictionaries. In German-language writing, it is often used descriptively to refer to forums designed to foster dialogic interaction rather than simple debate or information exchange.

In practice, a Dialogforum or Dialogforen may be online, in-person, or hybrid. Features commonly associated with the concept include a structured format, facilitation by a moderator, rules that govern turn-taking and respectful conduct, prompts that invite reflection, and mechanisms to encourage equal participation and constructive handling of disagreement. The overarching aim is to support reasoned discussion and mutual understanding.

Contexts: educational settings, corporate or organizational training, public participation processes, and community or civic deliberation. The term is more frequent in German-speaking contexts and in literature on dialogic or deliberative practices; its exact scope varies by author and project.

Relationship to related terms: dialogic forums are related to deliberative democracy, dialogue-based pedagogy, and forum design. They are distinguished from generic discussion boards by their emphasis on structured facilitation and deliberation rather than unstructured exchange.

Because the term lacks a standardized definition, readers should consult the original source to determine which features are being emphasized. If uncertain, alternative terms such as deliberative forum or dialogue forum may convey a more widely recognized concept.