The Discussion Forum is a collaborative space for Organizations and Participants to interact with each other, post updates, ask questions, and receive answers fostering knowledge-sharing within the participant group.

[**Conversations:**](<https://help.iecho.org/2799373abbbe803fb463cde23c5ccee8>) Conversations help Hub teams, participants, and subject matter experts interact, ask questions, share insights, and discuss session topics in an open and collaborative space.

[Announcements](<https://help.iecho.org/2799373abbbe803fb463cde23c5ccee8>): Announcements let Hub teams share important program updates, such as schedule changes, policy updates, and more to keep participants informed and aligned.

Here's what’s new in Announcements & Conversations:

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Now, access Conversations :screenshot-2025-09-16-222807:and Announcements :screenshot-2025-09-16-222813:directly from the left navigation panel on the iECHO homepage to view discussions across multiple programs in one place.

Conversations and Announcements.mp4

• The number of unread conversations and announcements will also be displayed.

• Users will be able to view the latest 3 posts of last 1 month on the right side of the homepage. Click View All to see more posts.

• When a user posts for the first time, the Community Guidelines are displayed to ensure meaningful, respectful, and appropriate use of Conversations and Announcements.

  

• Click the three-dot menu to edit or delete your post; however, posts with at least one comment can no longer be edited and can only be deleted.

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Alternatively, to view discussions for a specific participant group, click the group name to access all related discussions.

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Conversations:

Community members are encouraged to engage in interactive discussions here. These conversations could revolve around: facilitating introductions within the participant group, addressing inquiries or uncertainties, delving into the latest session topic, research, news, or updates related to the program’s focus area and beyond.

1. On your iECHO Homepage, select Conversations from the left navigation panel.
2. Click on Share your thoughts, questions and insights here.

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• If only one program or one participant group is available, it will be auto-selected, and you will be taken directly to create the post.

• If your Hub has multiple programs and participant groups are available:

  • Select or search the relevant Program from the list.

  

  • Next, select the Participant Group.

  

  • Post your message. </aside>

1. You can upload supporting Images and Documents. The image editor also allows the participant to annotate the image and add text.
2. After adding all necessary details, click on Post.

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Both Hub members and participants can engage in Conversations in a two-way format beyond sessions using Add Reactions or Commentoptions.

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Announcements:

‘Announcements’ is a space for Organization Teams to post program and participant group updates such as: Update in Policies around attendance or certification, Launch of a new program or cohort, Modification in schedule and more.

1. On your iECHO Homepage, select Announcementsfrom the left navigation panel.
2. Click on Make an Announcement.

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• If only one program or one participant group is available, it will be auto-selected, and you will be taken directly to create the post.
• If your Hub has multiple programs and participant groups are available:
  • Select or search the relevant Program from the list.
  • Next, select the Participant Group.
  • Post your message. </aside>

1. Add Title of the Announcement, along with a brief description of the announcement. You can also choose to add supporting images and documents.
2. Click on Post.

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Note:

In the next step, click Confirm to send notifications.

(The notification toggle is ON by default (recommended))

If you don’t want to send notifications, turn the toggle off and then click Confirm.

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Announcements serve as a one-way communication for Organizations. *Participants can only add reactions to the posts.

The number of post views will also be visible for each announcement.*

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For Mobile Users:

iECHO now enables easy access to Announcements and Conversations for seamless engagement — even while you're on the move.

Here’s how you can access Announcements:

• On your mobile, go to the Homepage.
• Tap the 📢 icon at the top right corner, next to the 🔍 icon.
• View all posts created under any Program or Participant Group. Creator details are visible.
• React to announcements using emojis: 👍, 👏, ❤️, 🎉, 💡, 🙏. Post views appear on the right.

Here’s how you can access Conversations:

• On your mobile Homepage, tap the chat icon “:chat:” at the bottom of the screen.

• View and react to existing conversations using emojis.

• Add comments and attachments.

• Tap on the post and check the top of the screen to view members in the Participant Group.

  

Check this video tutorial on how to create an announcement/conversation:

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Org team members have the option to disable the participant list view in Participant Group Settings, (if required).

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FAQs related to Conversations and Announcements