Panel vs. Forum — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 6, 2024
Panel discussions involve a group of experts talking on a topic in front of an audience, focusing on expert insights; forums are larger, interactive discussions involving audience participation and multiple viewpoints.
Difference Between Panel and Forum
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A panel typically consists of a selected group of experts who discuss a specific topic or issue in front of an audience. These experts provide insights based on their knowledge and experience, making panels highly informative on specialized subjects. On the other hand, a forum may include experts but is more inclusive, allowing for broader participation from the audience, which can lead to a diverse range of perspectives and a more democratic exchange of ideas.
Panel discussions are often structured with a moderator who guides the conversation and ensures that the discussion remains focused on the predefined topic. This format is prevalent at conferences, academic gatherings, and professional seminars. Whereas, forums are generally less structured and can be found in both physical and online settings, like community meetings or Internet discussion boards, allowing for more spontaneous and wide-ranging discussions.
Panels are usually more formal and are intended to provide audience members with expert opinions and conclusions on specific subjects. They tend to be more controlled, with limited interaction from the audience, primarily through a Q&A session towards the end of the discussion. In contrast, forums encourage ongoing dialogue among participants, with the audience actively contributing questions, answers, and comments throughout, fostering a more interactive environment.
In terms of outcomes, panel discussions aim to offer clear, expert-driven conclusions that help the audience understand complex issues more thoroughly. While forums might not always provide clear conclusions, they excel in exploring a topic from multiple angles, encouraging learning through discussion and community involvement.
Despite their differences, both panels and forums serve important educational and communicative functions. They offer platforms for information exchange, though the depth and style of communication vary. Panels offer depth through expert analysis, while forums offer breadth through community engagement.
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Comparison Chart
Participants
Experts selected for knowledge
Open to all, including experts
Structure
Structured with a moderator
Less structured, more open
Interaction
Limited audience participation
High audience interaction
Setting
Conferences, seminars
Anywhere, including online
Primary Purpose
In-depth discussion on topic
Broad discussion, community input
Compare with Definitions
Panel
A segment of a comic strip containing a single drawing.
The first panel of the comic sets the scene.
Forum
A marketplace or public square in ancient Roman cities.
The Roman forum was bustling with traders and citizens.
Panel
A group of experts discussing a topic before an audience.
The conference featured a panel on renewable energy solutions.
Forum
A place or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
The online forum has active discussions about health and wellness.
Panel
A jury in a court of law.
The panel of judges will make the final decision on the case.
Forum
A court or tribunal.
The forum will convene to settle the dispute next week.
Panel
A flat board on which controls or instruments are mounted.
He adjusted the settings on the control panel.
Forum
An assembly, meeting place, or television program for open discussion.
The town hall served as a forum for local government elections.
Panel
A section of a wall, door, or window.
The wooden panels in the library gave it a classical look.
Forum
An Internet site where users can post comments and share information.
She frequently contributes to a gardening forum.
Panel
A small group of people brought together to investigate or decide on a particular matter
An interview panel
Forum
A public meeting place for open discussion.
Panel
A flat or curved component, typically rectangular, that forms or is set into the surface of a door, wall, or ceiling
A layer of insulating material should be placed between the panels and the wall
Forum
The public square or marketplace of an ancient Roman city that was the assembly place for judicial activity and public business.
Panel
A flat board on which instruments or controls are fixed
A control panel
Forum
A medium for open discussion or voicing of ideas, such as a newspaper, a radio or television program, or a website.
Panel
A person or people charged with an offence.
Forum
A public meeting or presentation involving a discussion usually among experts and often including audience participation.
Panel
Cover (a wall or other surface) with panels
An elegant panelled dining room
Forum
An area of legal authority; a jurisdiction.
Panel
A flat, usually rectangular piece forming a raised, recessed, or framed part of the surface in which it is set.
Forum
A court of law or tribunal.
Panel
The space or section in a fence or railing between two posts.
Forum
A place for discussion.
Panel
A vertical section of fabric; a gore.
Forum
A gathering for the purpose of discussion.
Panel
A thin wooden board, used as a surface for an oil painting.
Forum
A form of discussion involving a panel of presenters and often participation by members of the audience.
Panel
A painting on such a board.
Forum
(Internet) An Internet message board where users can post messages regarding one or more topics of discussion.
Trish was an admin on three forums, and had no trouble at all when it came to moderating them.
Panel
A board having switches or buttons to control an electric device.
Forum
(historical) A square or marketplace in a Roman town, used for public business and commerce.
Panel
An instrument panel.
Forum
A market place or public place in Rome, where causes were judicially tried, and orations delivered to the people.
Panel
A section of a telephone switchboard.
Forum
A tribunal; a court; an assembly empowered to hear and decide causes.
He [Lord Camden] was . . . more eminent in the senate than in the forum.
Panel
A cartoon drawing in a sequence of cartoons that form a narrative.
Forum
A public meeting or assembly for open discussion
Panel
The complete list of persons summoned for jury duty.
Forum
A public facility to meet for open discussion
Panel
Those persons chosen from this list to constitute a pool from which a jury or juries will be selected for a particular court.
Forum
A place of assembly for the people in ancient Greece
Panel
A jury.
Panel
A group of people gathered to plan or discuss an issue, judge a contest, or act as a team on a radio or television quiz program.
Panel
A discussion by such a group.
Panel
To cover or furnish with panels.
Panel
To decorate with panels.
Panel
To separate into panels.
Panel
A (usually) rectangular section of a surface, or of a covering or of a wall, fence etc.
Behind the picture was a panel on the wall.
Panel
(architectural element) A sunken compartment with raised margins, moulded or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc.
Panel
A group of people gathered to judge, interview, discuss etc. as on a television or radio broadcast for example.
Today’s panel includes John Smith.
Panel
A portion of text or other material within a book, newspaper, web page, etc. set apart from the main body or separated by a border.
Panel
(comics) An individual frame or drawing in a comic.
The last panel of a comic strip usually contains a punchline.
Panel
(graphical user interface) A type of GUI widget, such as a control panel.
Admin panel
Panel
(law) A document containing the names of persons summoned as jurors by the sheriff.
Panel
(law) The whole jury.
Panel
A prisoner arraigned for trial at the bar of a criminal court.
Panel
(obsolete) A piece of cloth serving as a saddle.
Panel
A soft pad beneath a saddletree to prevent chafing.
Panel
(joinery) A board having its edges inserted in the groove of a surrounding frame.
The panel of a door
Panel
(masonry) One of the faces of a hewn stone.
Panel
(masonry) A slab or plank of wood used instead of a canvas for painting on.
Panel
(mining) A heap of dressed ore.
Panel
(mining) One of the districts divided by pillars of extra size, into which a mine is laid off in one system of extracting coal.
Panel
(dressmaking) A plain strip or band, as of velvet or plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a dress, for ornament.
Panel
A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or struts, as in a bridge truss.
Panel
A list of doctors who could provide limited free healthcare prior to the introduction of the NHS.
Panel
(medicine) A group of tests or assays, a battery.
Panel
To enter (jury members) on an official list of jurors; to empanel.
Panel
To fit (an animal, especially a mule or ass) with a panel or simple padded saddle.
Panel
(transitive) To fit (a room etc.) with panels.
Panel
A sunken compartment with raised margins, molded or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc.
Panel
A piece of parchment or a schedule, containing the names of persons summoned as jurors by the sheriff;
Panel
Any group of persons selected to judge a contest, conduct a discussion, serve as advisers, or participate in any group activity in which they will provide information or make judgments.
Panel
Formerly, a piece of cloth serving as a saddle; hence, a soft pad beneath a saddletree to prevent chafing.
Panel
A board having its edges inserted in the groove of a surrounding frame; as, the panel of a door.
Panel
One of the faces of a hewn stone.
Panel
A slab or plank of wood upon which, instead of canvas, a picture is painted.
Panel
A heap of dressed ore.
Panel
A plain strip or band, as of velvet or plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a dress, for ornament.
Panel
A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or struts, as in a bridge truss.
Panel
A segment of an aëroplane wing. In a biplane the outer panel extends from the wing tip to the next row of posts, and is trussed by oblique stay wires.
Panel
To form in or with panels; as, to panel a wainscot.
Panel
Sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat) section or component of something
Panel
A committee appointed to judge a competition
Panel
(law) a group of people summoned for jury service (from whom a jury will be chosen)
Panel
A group of people gathered for a special purpose as to plan or discuss an issue or judge a contest etc
Panel
A pad placed under a saddle
Panel
(computer science) a small temporary window in a graphical user interface that appears in order to request information from the user; after the information has been provided the user dismisses the box with `okay' or `cancel'
Panel
Electrical device consisting of an insulated panel containing switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devices;
He checked the instrument panel
Suddenly the board lit up like a Christmas tree
Panel
Decorate with panels;
Panel the walls with wood
Panel
Select from a list;
Empanel prospective jurors
Common Curiosities
How do forums differ in participant structure from panels?
Forums are open to anyone and encourage broad participation, while panels are composed of selected experts.
Are forums more informal than panels?
Yes, forums tend to be more informal and flexible in terms of discussion and participant roles.
What type of interaction is typical in a panel discussion?
Interaction is usually limited, with some Q&A sessions toward the end allowing audience participation.
Can forums have moderators like panels?
Yes, forums can have moderators, especially in structured settings, but generally, they allow for more free-form interaction.
Where are panel discussions typically held?
They are commonly held at conferences, academic events, or professional seminars.
How do panels manage topic focus?
Panels use a moderator to keep discussions on track and focused on the intended topic.
What is the primary purpose of a panel?
To provide expert insights and focused discussions on specific topics.
How does audience engagement differ between panels and forums?
Forums engage the audience throughout the discussion, whereas panels typically feature limited audience interaction.
Can both panels and forums be held online?
Yes, both can be adapted for online platforms, though forums are naturally suited for ongoing, interactive online discussions.
Which format is better for reaching conclusive insights?
Panels are better for reaching conclusive insights due to the expertise of the speakers.
Can a forum function without a moderator?
Yes, many forums operate effectively without a formal moderator, especially online.
What is a key benefit of participating in a forum?
Forums provide a platform for learning through diverse perspectives and community interaction.
What is the typical outcome of a forum discussion?
The outcome can be varied and may not always result in clear conclusions but offers extensive topic exploration.
Why might someone choose to attend a panel instead of a forum?
To gain detailed knowledge from experts and a structured discussion on a specific topic.
What makes forums attractive to participants?
The open, democratic nature of discussion and the ability to voice personal opinions freely make forums attractive.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
