Discussions

The Discussions tool allows for "posting" of information like an electronic bulletin board. The instructor can create topics and categories for organizing the messages.Topics can be limited to a particular group in the class.Topics can be gradable.To create a category or a topic in Discussions:

CATEGORY

Under the Build or Teach tab click DiscussionsClick the Create Category buttonType a title for the category. (Examples: Unit 1, Parts of Blood, Student Knowledge Base)You may type a description. Click Save.

TOPIC

Under the Build or Teach tab click Discussions. Click the Create Topic button and select type of topic

• Threaded
• Blog
• Journal - kept private between the individual student and the instructor

Topic Options for each Threaded, Blog, or JournalType a title for the topic. (Examples: Chapter 1, Red Blood Cells, How to...)You may type a descriptionItem Visibility - are you ready to display the topic to students?Category - select a category

Grading

• Not gradable
• Numeric grade and indicate number out of
• Alphanumeric
• Grading form and select the form

• No peer review
• Peer review using a rating scale
• Peer review using a grading form

• Students can post messages and reply to messages
• Students can post messages but cannot reply to messages
• Students can reply to messages but cannot post messages
  • Students can edit their messages after posting them
• Lock this topic for Students (Section Instructors can post in a locked topic)

Author Identification

• Authors are identified by user names
• Authors are anonymous to Students

Click Save.

Creating a Message

1. Under the Build or Teach tab click Discussions
2. Click the name of a topic.
3. Click the Create Message button.
4. Type a subject for your message.
5. Type your message. You may use the HTML Creator if you wish to use spell check, color, font styles, etc.You may attach a file to the message. You may preview your message by clicking the Preview button.You may save your message as a draft to be posted later.
6. When you are ready to post your message, click Post.

Replying to a message

1. Under the Build or Teach tab click Discussions
2. Click the topic, then the message you wish to make a reply.Click the Reply button.
3. Type your reply.
4. Click Post.

If you have a message that is only available to specific members in a class, you can click the Forward button and select other members of the class to view the message.

Grading a Topic

1. Click the Action Links arrow (down arrow) beside the title of the topic.
2. Scroll to and click Grade topic.
3. On the right side frame, click the student's name to review their posts. On the left side frame, type the assigned grade in the box beside the student's name.
4. Click Save Grades.

Reviewing Journal Posts

1. If you use the Journal topic for personal journals, under the Teach tab, click Discussions.
2. Click the title of the journal topic.
3. In the left side frame will be a list of the students who have posted journal entries and the number they have posted.

8/9/07