# Optionals

### Why do I need to give optional activities to students?

As you might have seen so far, LAMS allows you to create sequences of learning activities. But at times, you might want to have choices or options to perform the same activity but using a different modality. 

For instance, say you want your students to discuss a particular topic. But you aren't sure if the students can have a synchronous or asynchronous discussion. 

In this case, you can use an optional and add two activities into it: a Forum, in case the discussion will be conducted asynchronously, or a Chat if the discussion is to happen synchronously. 

Here's how you will do add an option with a Forum and Chat and allow students to select one or the other:

![Adding an optional with a forum and a chat activities. ](/files/a12HZHjPFcSZcHYdFn5T)

### Student's view

Once the students get to the optional activity, then they will be able to pick which discussion activity to use:

![Student view](/files/rLczHUxtsjlDbkoJ35cr)

On selection of one, then the student will be routed to the choosen tool to conduct the learning activity. 


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