1. Discussions State College of Florida
Less time. Less effort. More awesome.

2. What are Discussions in Canvas?
Discussions in Canvas can be created as an assignment for grading (integrated with the Gradebook), or simply as a forum for topical and current events.
Other Discussion Uses:
Help students start thinking about an upcoming Assignment
Follow-up on a conversation
Test student comprehension of important points made in class
Debate contradictory ideas
Brainstorm different approaches to a problem
Note: Discussions are not the same as Announcements

3. Create a Discussion Click the Discussions tab
Click Add Discussion button
Create your discussion with these options:
Topic Title
Rich Content Editor (enter discussion prompts and materials)
Attach a file to discussion (optional)

4. Create a Discussion - options continued
Allow threaded replies (students to comment on each others posts)
Require users to post an original post before viewing others
Enable podcast feed
Make discussion graded (syncs to Gradebook)
Group Discussion Option
Open an Close Dates
Click Save
Publish Discussion

5. Threaded Discussions Allow you to post and reply to others
Blue dot indicates a new reply
White dot indicates unread reply
Settings Tab provides the following:
Go to Parent (return to initial discussion post or comment)
Edit link to edit the response
Delete link to delete response
Note: Graded discussions will provide an open in SpeedGrader link to grade the discussion replies

6. Delay a discussion posting
To delay a discussion posting until a specific date edit these settings:
Enter date in the Available From (Open Date)
Enter date in the Until (Close Date)
Click Save
Click Publish
View the discussion and posting date

7. Discussions Student Settings
Settings are available in the main discussion page by clicking the gear.
Settings to Set for Student Access:
Create Discussion topics (allows students to start their own discussions)
Edit & Delete their own posts
Attach files to discussions
Note: Student setting options are automatically applied to ALL discussions, you do not have to change settings for each discussion.

8. Student View – Discussions
When students click on a discussion to complete the assignment, it will display like this.
Reply – students click the reply button to respond
Rich Content Editor – students type their reply into the content editor box
Attach – paper clip indicates students can attach a file
Note: Attach file is only available if instructors turn this feature on in the main discussion page

9. Online Learning Staff Gary Baker
Director Phone: Fax:
Kendi Judy
Specialist, Instructional Designer Phone: Fax:
Melanie Wallace
Staff Assistant Phone: Fax:
Dale Drees
Lead Instructional Designer
Phone: Fax:
John Ewing LMS Administrator
Phone: Fax: