Discussions

Contents

How do Brightspace Discussions work?

Forums contain Topics. You create or post Threads and then Reply to other Threads.

Group, Section, or Date restrictions can be applied at the Forum or Topic level and you may only have access to certain Discussion areas based on those settings.

How do I post in Discussions?  

Go to Discussions in the course navbar.

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

2. Click the Topic title.

3. Select Start a New Thread to post.

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 Topic that contains your classmates posts.

2. Select the title of the thread to open it.

3. At the bottom of the thread, click 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 an upload box 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, if your instructor has allowed this. 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. This works the same as when submitting a video assignment.

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 may have hidden the Topic/Forum.

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

• The posts may have been deleted.

• Topics may be restricted to only members of certain Sections or Groups.

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 beside the title. You can also manage notifications in Brightspace.