Ed Discussion supports multiple functions and tools to create and manage discussion threads that address posting, commenting, organizing, and searching threads. Utilizing these functions and tools can improve your efficiency in navigating and facilitating your discussions with students.
Table of Contents
This article will address the following information:
Posting New Threads
- Click the "New Thread" button in the top-left corner. \
- In the central discussion space, a new thread box will appear where you can begin to craft your message.
- Select what kind of thread you want to start, either a(n):
- Question - Default thread for students that is answered by instructor and/or other students
- Post - Thread to promote discussion about a specific topic
- Announcement - Thread that sends an email to the class (instructors only)
- Provide a "Title" for the Thread.
- Select the "Category" the thread should be organized under.
- Write your message in the Content Editor box.
- Check off any "Post / Comment Settings" that are applicable in this thread,
- When done, click "Post."
Be sure to check out the Utilizing the Content Editor and Post / Comment Settings sections below for more details on these components.
Utilizing the Content Editor
The Content Editor allows users to format text, insert multimedia, and other programming language snippets. It also supports chemical and mathematical equations by directly typing in Markdown or LaTex syntax. Below is a brief introduction to the Content Editor functions.
- Polls - Create short straw polls for students to respond to. Learn more about Ed Discussion Polls.
- Text Style - Change the text style to insert Header tags, blockquotes, and specific Callouts that change the text color and background.
- Insert Image - Embed an image from a file on your computer or from a URL link.
- Embed Video - Embed a video from a URL link from sites like YouTube or Vimeo.
- Upload a File - Upload a file from your computer for students to download.
- Insert LaTex - Write direct input of LaTex math equations into the Content Editor (using the dollar syntax) or build equations with the visual math editor to see a live preview in the LaTex editing window.
- Insert Code Snippets - Insert code snippets from supported coding language such as C/C++, Python, Java, Ruby, R, Julia, SQL, Javascript, CSS, HTML, etc. These code snippets can be run by clicking "Run" button in the top-right corner once inserted.
- Insert Web Codes - Insert HTML, CSS, or Javascript codes for web design and development.
- Image Annotation - Insert a blank canvas or upload an image to have students annotate over.
- Preview - Open a preview window to show what the new Thread will look like when posted.
Post / Comment Settings
Below the Content Editor are a set of post / comment settings for each Thread type during creation that can be enabled or disabled. The settings offered are slightly different depending on if you want to post a new Question, Post, or Announcement Thread. Below is a table highlighting which post/comment settings are available to use depending on the Thread type.
| Pinned | Private | Anonymous | Anonymous Comments | Megathread | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | X |
X |
X |
|||
| Post | X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
| Announcement | X |
X |
X |
X |
Pinned - Keeps the Thread at the top of the category's thread list.
Private - A thread that is only visible to you and other staff in the course (i.e. other instructors and TAs).
Anonymous* - Allows students to hide their identity from each other when making new Threads.
Anonymous Comments* - Allows students to hide their identity from each other when posting comments.
Megathread - Allows instructors to consolidate student questions under a specific topic.
Email - Sends an email notification to all course members with the content of the Thread.
* Staff will always be able to see the names of students regardless of whether this is selected.
Replying / Interacting with Threads
Once a Thread has been made, Instructors and students have a number of ways to reply / interact with the thread that can facilitate discussion, collaboration, and communication.
Hearts, Stars, and Watch
- In a thread, instructors and students can click the "Heart" icon to the left of the comment / thread they find useful.
- Likewise, they can click the "Star" icon in the top-right on the threads they want to refer to later.
The number of Hearts that a post receives is viewable by the entire class, but the Star is private to the individual.
- The "Watch" icon allows users to manage their notifications for that thread. They can click to switch between three different modes:
- Not Watching - users will be notified of direct replies only
- Watching - users will receive notifications about all activities
- Ignoring - users will never be notified
Pinning Threads
Only Instructors can "Pin" a Thread. Pinning a thread keeps the thread at the top of the Category's thread list.
Resolving and Endorsing Student Responses
- When reviewing student Question threads, Instructors and Staff can take a student comment and select the "Convert to Answer" option by clicking the three dots below the comment.
- Instructors can then "Endorse" a response that exemplifies a good and/or strong answer, which will put a blue ribbon on the post / comment.
- Instructors can also "Accept" a comment to mark the question as resolved.
Removing Duplicate Threads
If a new thread is created that duplicates the discussion or question in another thread, you can consolidate the threads.
- Click the three dots on a thread and select "Mark as Duplicate."
- A new window will pop up where you can select which Thread this is a duplicate of, and then confirm by clicking the "Mark as Duplicate" button in the new window.
Mentions
Instructors can take advantage of using Mentions to instantly notify another instructor or staff member about a discussion. In the content box, type the "@" and then the users name to notify and draw them into the discussion.
Instructors and staff cannot use this function to @Mention other students. Nor can students @Mention course staff or other students.
Search and Filters
Ed Discussion supports a variety of ways to search, filter, and sort Threads.
- Utilizing the Search Box, you can conduct a full-text search by typing in keywords.
- All Threads that match will appear in the Search Results. You can also Filter your search results by selecting from things like Unread/Read, New Replies, Categories, and Date.
For more help with Ed Discussions, please email vendor support at [email protected] or [email protected].