The whole concept of journals needs to be re-thought, as almost no-one uses them in the way I originally intended.

The current scheme is really like an online assignment and really belongs in the assignment module. MDL-100 can be satisfied by extending the feedback possible for all assignments into forum-like discussions between teacher and student.

This frees up the journal module to be more like a cross between a forum and a blog. I envisage something like the forum module in news mode, where the student only can start new discussions, and can choose who else can read and reply to them: teacher, group, or class.

These can be combined so that for instance, a student can view all the group's blogs combined into a virtual forum, or the whole class, and so on. The teacher can also examine whole class, or choose groups or students.

This probably makes MDL-260 unnecessary.

Still needs more thought ...