Isites Async Discussions How to Use Isites Discussion Tool

Where to locate the Discussion in the course site

The Discussion Tool facilitates an asynchronous discussion in which students can exchange ideas and course materials, and ask questions of each other and the teaching staff. Instructors and teaching staff may customize their online discussions to meet a variety of instructional goals. They may create a structured forum, in which students can only participate in predefined discussions, or an unstructured forum, in which students can initiate new discussion threads. Enrolled students, course instructors, and any additional viewers for whom an instructor has an HUID or XID, may access course forums and participate. How is the discussion tool used?

Although each Discussion topic area is highly customizable, three basic components are common to all: forums, threads, and messages. Each forum is made up of threads and messages. Threads organize messages (sometimes called “postings” or “posts”) that can be read and responded to. The messages are stored in “threads,” so that a posting on a new topic will be grouped together with subsequent responses, which are indented underneath the initial message so that the exchange of ideas is represented as an outline. Navigating the Discussion Environment

Individuals can set viewing preferences and choose to receive discussion digests via by clicking the Set Preferences link, which is available in the upper-right corner of the Discussion topic area. You can also choose not to have your picture viewable.