Setting Up a Discussion

This article describes instructors how to set up discussion forums.
Use the Discussions tool in your course to encourage learners to share thoughts on course material with their peers. You can set up forums and topics for learners to discuss course content and assignments, and work together in assigned groups and sections.

Discussions Can Be Broken Down Into 3 Elements.

1. Forums – This is a heading or category that discussion topics will live inside. Students can’t do anything in an empty forum. It must have topics inside of it for discussion to take place.
2. Topics – The topic is where you state what is to be discussed. Students will then reply by starting a thread. You must designate what forum your topic is to reside in.
3. Threads – When a student posts their response to a topic, it will start a thread. This allows the instructor and other students to react to what they have said.

Create a Discussion Forum and Topic

1. Click Activities > Discussions in the navbar.

2. Click New > Forum.

3. Enter a title and description in the “Properties” tab under Edit Forum Details.

4. Edit the Options (i.e. allow anonymous posting, whether users must start a new thread to reply to others, visibility, etc.).

5. Click on the “Restrictions” tab

6. Define the Availability settings.

7. Under Locking Options you may lock the forum or set an availability date range.

8. Click Save and Add a Topic.

9. Enter a title and description for your discussion under New Topic Details.

10. Edit the Options (i.e. allow anonymous posting, whether users must start a new thread to reply to others, visibility, etc.).

11. Click on the Restrictions tab

12. Under Availability you may edit visibility of and access to your forum.

13. The locking options for the topic may be changed here too.

14. Click on the Assessment tab.

15. Under Grade Item you may assign an existing grade item from the grade book to this Topic.

16. Click Save and Close once complete.