This document will explain how to organize your discussions from the Communications
area and add them into your content area when you are done.
Step 1 - Communications
- Select Communications tab at the top
- Select "Discussions" from the menu options
Definitions: Forums & Topics & Threads
Forum - Is a discussion area, it groups topics together by theme.
Topic - Topic area is under the umbrella of the forum. This is where the discussion actually takes place.
Thread - A thread is under the umbrella of a topic. This is where a student posts their initial response to the topic.
Step 2 - Create a Forum
- Click on Forum to create a new forum
Step 3 - Forum Settings
- Type "Title" name - (Example: General Forum area, Module 1 forum...etc.) There are many ways that you can organize discussion forums.
- Type description and/or add media. (Note: This is a good place to include a rubric for discussions.)
- Select appropriate "Options"
Step 4 - Forum - Set Availability and Locking
Availability settings are determined by the start and end dates of the forum. The three options below the start and end dates determine what users see. You must choose only one of the three options below the start and end dates if you choose to use a start and/or end date for your forum. You can choose to use a start date or end date and not the other.
Forum Start Date Visibility Options
- Visible with access restricted before start - this setting will show the forum exists, but none of the content or topics will be visible in the forum until the start date occurs.
- Visible with submission restricted before start - this setting will show the content and topics within a forum as read-only. They can interact and view the threads but cannot create any new posts.
- Hidden before start - this setting will not allow the forum to be visible until the start date occurs. At that point, all content and topics can be interacted with.
Forum End Date Visibility Options
- Visible with access restricted after end - this setting will show the forum exists, but none of the content or topics will be visible in the forum after the end date occurs.
- Visible with submission restricted after end - this setting will show the content and topics within a forum as read-only. They can interact and view the threads but cannot create any new posts.
- Hidden after end - this setting will not allow the forum to be visible after the end date occurs. At that point, all content and topics will be hidden from student view.
*NOTE: Remember, the forum settings will override topic settings.
Topic Settings
The next few steps will review the following menus: Properties, Restrictions and Assessment.
Step 5 - Topic: Properties
- Select the forum that you would like the topic to appear under.
- Add a title
- Add a description of the topic (Note: This is where to type the question(s) and/or instructions for posting to the discussion topic.)
- Options: Select the settings that you would like to be active for the topic.
Step 6 Topic: Set Availability and Locking
Availability settings are determined by the start and end dates of the topic. The three options below the start and end dates determine what users see. You must choose only one of the three options below the start and end dates if you choose to use a start and/or end date for your topic. You can choose to use a start date or end date and not the other.
*NOTE: You can add due dates to your topics, but only if they are added to a content module. The due date most be added from the properties in the content area and will not show in the restrictions tab of the discussion topic settings.
Topic Start Date Visibility Options
- Visible with access restricted before start - this setting will show the topic exists, but none of the content or threads will be visible in the topic until the start date occurs.
- Visible with submission restricted before start - this setting will show the content and threads within a topic as read-only. They can interact and view the threads but cannot create any new posts.
- Hidden before start - this setting will not allow the topic to be visible until the start date occurs. At that point, all content and threads can be interacted with in the topic.
Topic End Date Visibility Options
- Visible with access restricted after end - this setting will show the topic exists, but none of the content or threads will be visible in the topic after the end date occurs.
- Visible with submission restricted after end - this setting will show the content and threads within a topic as read-only. They can interact and view the threads but cannot create any new posts.
- Hidden after end - this setting will not allow the topics to be visible after the end date occurs. At that point, the entire topic will not be visible to students.
*NOTE: Remember, the forum settings will override topic settings.
Step 7 - Topic: Restrictions
- Click to create or attach release conditions. (Note: Release conditions can be created based on completion of other activities such as quizzes etc.)
- Click to restrict the topic to specific groups or sections. (Note: This only applies to classes with groups or multiple sections. Please see document for creating group/cross sectioned course discussions.)
Step 8 - Topic: Assessment
- Attach to a grade item
- Designate the "Score out of"
- Add a rubric or create a rubric (recommended)
- Optional: Posts - Select options for grading posts.
- Save and close
Step 9 - View Forum and Topic in Discussion Area
- In the discussion area you will see your forum and topic.
NOTE: D2L will automatically put the new forum and topic at the bottom of your discussion area. You
may need to reorder topics.
Step 10 - Add Discussion Topic to Content
- Go to Content area
- Select the module to which the new discussion belongs.
- Click "Add Existing Activities"
- Select "Discussions"
Step 11 - Add Discussion Topic to Content (cont.)
Step 12 - Add Discussion Topic to Content (cont.)
Step 13 - View Topic in Module
