Discussions are a great tool to stay connected with your students and to encourage their active participation throughout the semester. Discussions can easily be added, edited, or deleted in a course.

Adding a Discussion from the Course Navigation

Click the Discussions link from the Course Navigation.

Click the + Discussion button on the top right side of the page.

You will be guided to the Create a Discussion Screen where you will be able to create your discussion text.

Create your discussion by utilizing the following options:

1. Topic Title Field – Enter a title for your Discussion.
2. Rich Content Editor – Enter and format the content for your Discussion.
3. Discussion Options – Edit the settings for your Discussion as necessary.
• Attach Files – Attach files to your discussion
• Allow threaded replies – Create threaded replies
• Users must post before seeing replies – Require users to post to the discussion before viewing other replies
• Enable podcast feed – Create a podcast feed for the discussion
• Graded – Creates a graded discussion.  When selecting the check box, field boxes will be displayed regarding the grading elements of the discussion.
  
  Please Note: When making discussions ‘Graded’, you will need to update the Grade Weight Distribution.  Please see the related support topic to update the weight distribution within your course gradebook.
  
  
  
  
• Available From/Until – Make your discussion available on a certain date

Please Note: Due Date refers to the date an assignment is due. Availability Dates determine the time frame during which students can access/submit the assignment. For additional information on setting due dates for assignments, please refer to the Add Due Dates help page.


4. Save - Start the discussion.

Once you have created your discussion(s), we suggest that you add it to the Module section of your course. This makes it easier for students to locate and/or access Discussions while doing their course work.

Adding a Discussion from the Module

From the Modules page (accessed from the Course Navigation), click the Edit icon associated with the Module to which you would like to add the Discussion and select + Add Content.

From the Add Item to Module pop-up window use the following options to create your discussion.

1. From the Item Type drop-down menu, select Discussion.
2. Select [New Topic] from the Topic List.

Please Note: If your Discussion Topic has been previously created, you can select it from the list.


3. Type the Topic Name.

Please Note: If you selected a previously created topic, then this step is not required.


4. Select ‘Add Item’.

The Discussion Topic will be added to the Module. For newly created topics, the forum detail will be blank.

Click on the title of the newly created topic.

From the Topic Screen, select the Edit button.

You will be guided to the Create a Discussion Screen where you will be able to create your discussion text.

Create your discussion by utilizing the following options:

1. Topic Title Field – Enter a title for your Discussion.
2. Rich Content Editor – Enter and format the content for your Discussion.
3. Discussion Options – Edit the settings for your Discussion as necessary.
• Attach Files – Attach files to your discussion
• Allow threaded replies – Create threaded replies
• Users must post before seeing replies – Require users to post to the discussion before viewing other replies
• Enable podcast feed – Create a podcast feed for the discussion
• Graded – Creates a graded discussion.  When selecting the check box, field boxes will be displayed regarding the grading elements of the discussion.
  
  Please Note: When making discussions ‘Graded’, you will need to update the Grade Weight Distribution.  Please see the related support topic to update the weight distribution within your course gradebook.
  
  
  
  
• Available From/Until – Make your discussion available on a certain date

Please Note: Due Date refers to the date an assignment is due. Availability Dates determine the time frame during which students can access/submit the assignment. For additional information on setting due dates for assignments, please refer to the Add Due Dates help page.


4. Save - Start the discussion.