You can locate and post replies to discussion threads by either using the Discussions tool or from the Content tool.
Video: Create a Discussion Post
View a discussion topic
The Discussions tool allows you to view all your discussion topics related to course materials.
To view all discussion topics
- On the navbar, click Discussions.
Figure: The Discussion tool on the Course Homepage.
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Click on the forum and the topic in which you want to subscribe to a discussion thread. In the example below, the discussion forum is ‘Astronomy,’ and the topics are ‘Week 1 Discussion’ and ‘Class Discussion about the Big Bang Theory.’
Figure: The Discussion forum and topic highlighted.
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Click on a discussion you want to view. All the discussion threads are listed under a particular discussion topic. To view a thread, click on it.
Figure: An example of selecting a particular discussion thread to view.
Subscribe to a discussion
The Discussions tool allows you to subscribe to discussion threads and helps you stay updated on the latest course discussions and changes.
To subscribe to a discussion thread
- On the navbar, click Discussions.
Figure: The Discussion tool on the Course Homepage.
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Click on the forum and the topic in which you want to subscribe to a discussion thread. In the example below, the discussion forum is ‘Astronomy,’ and the topics are ‘Week 1 Discussion’ and ‘Class Discussion about the Big Bang Theory.’
Figure: The Discussion forum and topic highlighted.
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Click on the Subscribe button below the topic name.
Figure: The Subscribe button.
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Customize notifications for that particular topic by selecting one of the following:
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Show notifications in minibar only
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Send me an instant notification
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Include in my Summary of activity
Figure: The Customize Notifications window.
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Click the Subscribe button.
When you are subscribed to notifications of all threads, the topic becomes highlighted with Subscribed label.
Figure: The subscribed discussion.
Unsubscribe from a discussion topic
The Discussions tool allows you to unsubscribe to discussion threads to no longer receive notifications about new posts in course topics.
Note: This topic focuses on unsubscribing to a discussion thread. To know how to subscribe to a discussion thread, refer to Subscribe to a discussion.
To unsubscribe to a discussion thread
- On the navbar, click Discussions.
Figure: The Discussion tool on the Course Homepage
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Click on the forum and the topic to which you are subscribed.
Note: In the example below, the discussion forum is ‘Astronomy,’ and the topics are ‘Week 1 Discussion’ and ‘Class Discussion about the Big Bang Theory.’ The total number of threads and posts created inside a particular topic are listed.
Figure: The Discussion forum and topic highlighted.
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Click a particular topic to check the subscription status. The blue star button below the topic name with subscribed status means that you currently receive notifications of a discussion topic.
Figure: The subscribed discussion.
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Click on the Subscribe button below the topic name. Then confirm your unsubscription action in the opened window by clicking Yes.
Figure: Confirmation of unsubscribing.
The blue star button below the topic changes to Subscribe status, and you get a message ‘Topic unsubscribed successfully.' You are unsubscribed to notifications of all threads inside this topic.
Figure: The ‘Topic unsubscribed successfully’ message.
Create a discussion thread
The Discussions tool allows you to post, read and reply to discussion threads on different course topics, share thoughts about course materials, ask questions, share files, or work with your peers on assignments and homework.
Note: A discussion post can have a certain amount of word limit set by the instructor. Also, the formatting of the content is not preserved when the content is copy pasted. It is recommended to submit content as attachments in the tool, which preserves document formatting.
To create a discussion thread
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On the navbar, click Discussions.
Figure: The Discussion tool on the Course Homepage.
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Click on the forum and the topic in which you want to create a discussion post.
Note: In the example below, the discussion forum is ‘Astronomy,’ and the topics are ‘Week 1 Discussion’ and ‘Class Discussion about the Big Bang Theory.’ The total number of threads and posts created inside a particular topic are listed. To create a new discussion thread, click the name of the specific topic, for example, ‘Week 1 Discussion’.
Figure: The Discussion forum and topic highlighted.
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Click Start a New Thread.
Figure: The New Discussion Thread button.
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Enter a subject, and your post information. You can set any of the following posting options:
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To keep the thread at the top of the list, select Pin Thread.
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To receive updates on the thread using your selected notification method, select Subscribe to this thread.
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To attach a file, in the Attachments area, click Browse to locate the file that you want to attach.
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To attach an audio recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Audio > Record. To make adjustments to your microphone selection and volume, click Flash Settings. To listen to your recording, click Play. To erase your recording, click Clear. If you have prerecorded audio and are using a supported browser, you can drag audio files onto the attachments upload target.
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To attach a video recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Video > Allow > Record. When you finish recording, click Stop. To erase your recording, click Clear. To add the recording, click Add. If you have pre-recorded video and are using a supported browser, you can drag video files onto the attachments upload target.
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To post your thread to more than one topic, click Post to other topics. Click Add Topics. Select the topics that you want your thread to appear in. To post in every topic simultaneously, select the Select All and then click Add Topics.
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Click Post.
Note: If the topic is moderated, your post does not appear until a moderator approves it.
Figure: The Post button highlighted.
Your post is visible pending moderation.
Add audio or video to a discussion thread
You can also add audio-video content to a discussion thread.
To add audio-video content to a discussion thread from Content
- On your course homepage, navigate to Content.
- In the module with your discussion topic, click the topic where you want to create a thread.
Figure: Discussion topic in a module.
- Click Start a New Thread.
Figure: The Start a New Thread option in a discussion topic.
- Enter a title in the Subject field.
Figure: Subject and body fields of a discussion post, including the posting options Pin thread, Post as Anonymous, and Subscribe to this thread.
- To attach an audio recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Audio > Record.
Figure: Discussion thread highlighting the Add Attachments option.
Figure: Upload, Record, and Choose Existing options in the Add Attachments view.
- To adjust your microphone selection and volume, click Flash Settings.
- To listen to your recording, click Play.
- To erase your recording, click Clear.
- If you have prerecorded audio and are using a supported browser, you can drag audio files onto the attachments upload target or click Choose Existing.
- To attach a video recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Video > Allow > Record.
- When you finish recording, click Stop.
- To erase your recording, click Clear.
- To add the recording, click Add.
- If you have a prerecorded video and are using a supported browser, you can drag video files into the attachments upload target or click Choose Existing.
- Click Post.
Note: If the topic is moderated, your post does not appear until a moderator approves it.
Attach a file to a discussion thread
You can attach files, like a Word file, from your personal device to a discussion thread.
To attach a file to a discussion thread
- On your course homepage, navigate to Content.
- In the module with your discussion topic, click the topic where you want to create a thread.
Figure: Discussion topic in a module.
- Click Start a New Thread.
Figure: The Start a New Thread option in a discussion topic.
- Enter a title in the Subject field.
Figure: Subject and body fields of a discussion post, including the posting options Pin thread, Post as Anonymous, and Subscribe to this thread.
- To attach a file, click the Insert Stuff button in the body field of Brightspace Editor.
Figure: The Insert Stuff button in Brightspace Editor.
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In the Insert Stuff dialog, click My Computer.
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Click the Choose File button and select your file from your computer
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Click Upload.
Edit an existing discussion thread
The Discussions tool allows you to edit your posted discussion threads on different courses.
Note: This topic provides instructions on how to edit an already-posted discussion post. To create a new discussion thread, check the Create a discussion thread topic above.
To edit an existing discussion thread
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On the navbar, click Discussions.
Figure: The Discussion tool on the Course Homepage.
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Click on the forum and the topic in which you want to edit an existing discussion post.
Note: In the example below, the discussion forum is ‘Astronomy,’ and the topics are ‘Week 1 Discussion’ and ‘Class Discussion about the Big Bang Theory.’ The total number of threads and posts created inside a particular topic are listed. To edit a discussion thread, click the name of the specific topic, for example, ‘Week 1 Discussion’.
Figure: The Discussion forum and topic highlighted.
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Click the dropdown arrow button for a particular post and select Edit Thread.
Figure: An example of selecting a particular discussion thread to edit a thread.
Figure: The Update button highlighted.
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Make changes and click Update.
The Discussion thread is updated.
Edit an existing discussion post
The Discussions tool allows you to edit your discussion posts on different courses.
To edit an existing discussion post
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Click on a particular discussion thread to edit a post. Clicking on a particular thread reveals all the discussion posts.
Figure: An example of selecting a particular discussion thread to edit a post.
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Click the dropdown arrow button for a particular post and select Edit Post.
Figure: The drop-down menu for a post with the Edit Post option highlighted.
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Make your edits and click Update.
Figure: An edited discussion post with the Update button highlighted.
Note: Your instructor may or may not have enabled the editing feature. Reach out to your instructor if you are unable to complete this workflow.
Delete a discussion thread
You can delete a discussion thread using the Discussions tool.
To delete a discussion thread from Discussions
- On the navbar, click Discussions.
- On the Discussions List page, click the context menu of the thread you want to delete and click Delete Thread.
- To confirm the deletion, click Yes.
The discussion thread and all associated posts are deleted.
Reply to a discussion thread or post
The Discussions tool allows you to reply to created discussion threads and posts on different course topics, share thoughts about course materials, ask questions, share files, or work with your peers on assignments and homework.
To reply to a discussion thread or post
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On the navbar, click Discussions.
Figure: The Discussion tool on the Course Homepage.
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Click on the forum and the topic in which you want to reply to a thread or post.
Note: In the example below, the discussion forum is ‘Astronomy,’ and the topics are ‘Week 1 Discussion’ and ‘Class Discussion about the Big Bang Theory.’ The total number of threads and posts created inside a particular topic are listed.
Figure: Select the discussion forum you want to reply to.
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Click on a particular discussion thread to reply to a post.
Figure: An example of selecting a particular discussion thread to add a post.
Clicking on a particular thread reveals all the discussion posts.
- Do either of the following:
- To reply to the main thread post, click Reply to Thread.
- To reply to a particular post inside the thread, click Reply.
Figure: Click the Reply to Thread button to reply to a thread or click the Reply button to reply to a discussion post.
- Enter your reply in the Brightspace Editor. To include the original post’s text in your reply, click the Add original post text link.
Note: If this option is already enabled by your course administrator, this message will not display.
- Set any of the following options:
- To post anonymously, select Post as Anonymous.
- To receive updates on the thread using your selected notification method, select Subscribe to this thread.
- To attach a file, in the Attachments area, click Browse to locate the file you want to attach.
- To attach an audio recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Audio > Record. To make adjustments to your microphone selection and volume, click Flash Settings. To listen to your recording, click Play. To erase your recording, click Clear. If you have pre-recorded audio and are using a supported browser, you can drag audio files onto the attachments upload target.
- To attach a video recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Video > Allow > Record. When you finish recording, click Stop. Click Clear to erase your recording or Add to add the recording. If you have pre-recorded video and are using a supported browser, you can drag video files onto the attachments upload target.
- Click Post.
Figure: Click the Post button to reply to a discussion thread or post.
Change Discussions tool settings
You can customize Discussions settings such as where and how a topic or thread is displayed.
To change Discussions tool settings
- On the navbar, click Discussions.
- On the Discussions List page, click Settings.
- Do any of the following:
- To show topics in the View Topic and View Thread pages, select the Always show the Discussions List pane check box.
- To hide topics in the View Topic and View Thread pages, clear the Always show the Discussions List pane check box.
- To automatically include the original post when replying, select the Reply Settings check box.
- Click Save.
Discussion settings are saved.