Creating a Discussion Topic

1. First make sure you are in the class in which you want to create a discussion for

2. Next click ‘Communication’ from the Navbar

3. Then click ‘Discussions’ on the drop down menu

4. Click on ‘New’ and then select ‘New Topic’

5. The next page is Properties of the New Forum, Fill in each item accordingly

• Choose a Forum for the New Topic to be associated with

• Give the New Topic a Name

• Enter a description if desired

• Under Options

  1. Check to allow anonymous posts, instructor will not see who posts what in the forum

  2. Select if the post must be pre-approved by a moderator

  3. Check if users must create a new thread before reading and posting replies to other threads

• Choose whether people can rate other posts in the Topic

• Select availability and locking options

  1. The first option, Availability, should be used only when you want to hide the Discussion Topic or Forum from participants outside of the specified dates and times.

  2. The second option, Locking Options, should be used when you want to allow participants retain visibility of the Forum or Topic, but block them from being able to post a message outside of the restricted dates.

6. On the ‘Restrictions’ Tab 

   1. You can set when the grade category is visible along with release conditions

7. On the ‘Assessment’ Tab

   1. If this Discussion is not graded then skip this step

   2. If this Discussion is graded

      1. Select the grade item from the gradebook to associate it with

      2. Choose the score, If a value is entered, it represents the denominator value for topic scores.

      3. Add a rubric if one is needed

      4. Select this next check mark if each post in a Topic is graded separately

8. On the ‘Objectives’ Tab

   1. Associate Learning Objectives if any are needed

9. When finished click ‘Save and Close'

To request further assistance, submit a ticket to the IT Helpdesk HERE