Discussions Tool

Discussions are organized into Forums > Topics > Threads > Replies. A forum will contain topics. Students are able to post in topics by using threads. Threads are similar to a social media post where others can then comment (reply) to the original post (if enabled).

Forum - a collection of topics.

Topics - a collection of student threads on a topic specified by the instructor.

Threads - a chain of student posts that contain the original post and replies to the original post.

Post/Reply - a single message created and posted by a student in response to instructors provided.

See below for common questions related to Discussions.

How do I post in Discussions?  

Go to Discussions in the course navbar.

1. Find the Topic you are going to post under.

2. Select the Topic title.

3. To post, select Start a New Thread.

4. Write your thread then Post.

How do I create a discussion thread?  

Go to Discussions in the course navbar.

1. Find the Topic you are going to post under.

2. Select the Topic title.

3. To post, select Start a New Thread.

4. Write your thread then Post.

How do I reply to a discussion?  

Go to Discussions in the course navbar.

1. Find the thread you want to reply to under the topic.

2. Select the [Title] of the thread to open it.

3. At the bottom of the thread, choose Reply to Thread.

4. Draft your reply then Post.

To reply to other comments or other students replies on the same thread, select the Reply button on their post.

How do I add attachments/recordings to my posts?

Scroll down below the text box for your post when making it. Just beneath the Subscribe to this thread checkbox, there is an Add attachments link. Select Add attachments, and a dropbox will appear where you can either drag and drop files to attach them to your post, or select the Upload, Record, or Choose Existing buttons if dragging and dropping a file isn’t desired.

The Record option allows users to choose between recording a video or audio directly into Brightspace.

Can I delete my post? 

Yes. Select the drop-down arrow beside the title of your thread, then Delete.

How do I post a video?

It’s possible to add a video to a post by making use of the Insert Stuff button in the text editor. There is more information listed under How to submit a video

Why can’t I post a response? 

• Your instructor may have restricted the topic so that students must start a thread before they can view or reply to other threads.

• Posts may have to be approved by a moderator before they appear. Refer to the topic description or syllabus.

• The Topic may not yet be visible, check if there are any release conditions that have not been met, or if it is before the release date.

• The end date may have been reached or, the instructor has removed that Topic/Forum from class visibility.

Why can’t I see classmates’ posts? 

• Your instructor may have restricted the topic so that students must start a thread before they can view or reply to other threads.

• The Topic may not yet be visible, check if there are any release conditions that have not been met or if it is before the release date.

• The end date may have been reached or the instructor has removed that Topic/Forum from class visibility.

• The post may have been deleted.

• Topics may be sectioned by seminar groups, meaning you won’t see all the class posts, and instead just your seminar participant’s posts.

If you believe there is an error and you should be able to see posts, contact your TA or instructor.

Can I receive notifications about discussion activity? 

Yes. To receive notifications for a thread, topic, or forum activity, select the Subscribe button on the page or in the drop-down menu accessed via the chevron beside the title. To manage your notifications please refer to Getting Started in Brightspace | How do I customize the notifications I receive?.