CE-6 Discussion Tool

Faculty Features

New Location – Always in “Course Tools” Column

Organization Scheme

Categories

Topics

Threads (Actual posted Messages)

Create and Manage discussions in both “Build” and “Teach” tabs

Managing Your Discussions:Categories and Topics

Category

Topics

Discussion Categories

Group similar or related discussion topics together. Example: “Week 1” or “Unit 1” that contains all the

topics for the week/unit.

Topics Multiple topics per category Once one category is created, any topics that are not

assigned to a category appear under Uncategorized Topics.

Establish a category, even if only one topic exists

To Create a Category

Category

Creating Discussion Categories

1. Enter Title (required)

2. Enter Description (optional)

3. Save

Creating Discussion Categories

Creating Discussion Topics in Categories

1. Click on the “Action Arrow” for the Category to which you want to add topics.

2. Click on the “Create New Topic in this Category”.

Creating Discussion Topics in Categories

1. Enter a title for the topic (mandatory)

2. Enter your instructions for the discussion topic. (NEW!!! – Before you had to put instructions in content module pages or as the first post to a topic.)

Creating Discussion Topics in Categories - Options

Visibility - Show or hide (You can make a ‘hidden’ topic visible when it is

time for students to post to it).

Creating Discussion Topics in Categories - Options

Gradable – Establish topic as gradable

. Week 1 Intro

5.

Creating Discussion Topics in Categories – More Options

2. Editable – students can correct errors after posting message (New feature)

3. Locked – existing postings can be read but no new posts allowed

4. Anonymous

Creating Discussion Topics in Categories – More Options

Category …

1. Specify category for topic2. Create a new category for this topic

Note: Same entries as when using the “Create Category” button.

Creating Topics

Click on “Save” when finished with options.

Creating Topics

Discussion Topics

Action Items for Discussion Topics

Discussion Action Items

Click on “Create Message” to post a message to the topic.

Go To Topic (You can also just click on topic name)

Discussion Action Items

Edit Properties – opens ‘Create Topic’ screen so you can make changes to settings.

Discussion Action Items

Hide Item – Build/Teach View

Discussion Action Items

Hide Item – Student View

The “Week 1” Topic does notshow at all.

Discussion Action Items

View Links to this Item

In addition to being in the “Discussion” tool, this topic is also linked to/from the “Introduction” Learning Module.

Discussion Topic Link in Learning Module

Discussion Topic Link in Learning Module

Reduces the chances that students will post to the wrong discussion topic!

Discussion Action Items – Release Criteria

•Date Criteria•Member Criteria•Group Criteria•Grade Book Criteria

Discussion Action Items – Release Criteria: Date Criteria

Topic will automatically ‘disappear’ after noon on 9/11.

Discussion Action Items – Release Criteria: Member Criteria

Discussion Action Items – Release Criteria: Group Criteria If learning groups have been created in the

course and you want to release an item to certain groups only

Note – You can also set up ‘automatic’ group topics for collaborative projects as part of the create group process (The “Group Manager” tools will be presented in a different workshop.)

Discussion Action Items – Release Criteria: Grade Book Criteria Release an item to Students and Auditors

based on information in the Grade Book

E.g., Exam grade greater than “0” would make a discussion topic available to students AFTER they have completed a specific exam.

Organizing Discussion Topics and Categories Move Topics

Within a category Between categories

Copy Topics to multiple categories Re-sequence Categories

Move a Topic

Move a Topic Within a Category

1. “Select” the topic to be moved by clicking in the box to its left

2. Click on the icon to the left of the selection box of the item you want to move the selected topic above or below.

Move Topic

Click on appropriate ‘move’ option.

Move Topic within a Category

“Course Questions” is now above the “Cyber Café” topic.

Move Topic Between Categories

1. Select Topic

Move Topic Between Categories

Click on the icon to the left of the location to which you want the topic moved.

Moving Topics between Categories

Click on the option that indicates where you want the topic placed (above or below the topic whose icon you clicked)

Moving Topics between Categories

“Course Questions” has moved from the “Course Questions and Community Conversation” Category to the Unit 1 Category.

Copying Topics

Topics can also be copied to multiple categories by using the same technique. E.g., “Course Questions” could be copied to

each Category so that a question category is available for each instructional unit.

Re-ordering Discussion Categories

Reordering Discussion Categories

1. Select the category you want to move

2. Click the ‘move’ icon next to the category you want to move the selected category ABOVE

Re-ordering Discussion Categories