Discussion Replies
You can easily reply to any discussion, threaded or focused. However, the reply process varies depending on the type of discussion.
Note: The discussion reply Rich Content Editor includes a word count display below the bottom right corner of the text box.
1. In Course Navigation, click the Discussions link.
2. Click the name of the Discussion.
3. To reply to the main discussion, type your reply in the Reply field.
4. To enter your reply, add links, photos, equations, and/or media, use the Rich Content Editor [1]. To attach files to your discussion reply, click the Attach link [2].
To post your reply, click the Post Reply button [3].
Note: If you post your discussion response before an attached image finishes uploading, Canvas displays a warning message.
Your reply will be posted at the bottom of the discussion reply thread. The border of your post will flash blue indicating it has been newly posted. The dot indicator next to your post will immediately show an outline icon if Canvas automatically marks your posts as read. However, if you manually mark your posts as read, the indicator will remain a solid dot.
You can view all replies in a discussion by scrolling or searching content. Focused discussion replies are shown in hierarchal order; threaded discussions are hierarchal, collapsible, and expandable.
You can also search for discussion replies and copy a direct link to a discussion reply.
1. In Course Navigation, click the Discussions link.
2. Click the name of the discussion.
View Discussion
In a discussion, you have several options to view and sort discussions. Use the search field [1] to search for replies or specific authors. To filter by unread replies, click the Unread button [2]. To view deleted replies, click the Show button [3]. You can also collapse and expand all discussion replies [4].
To subscribe to a discussion, click the Subscribe button [5]. Subscribing to a discussion allows you to follow the discussion and receive notifications as set in your notification preferences. You are automatically subscribed to any discussions you reply to. When you create a discussion, you are also automatically subscribed to the discussion. If you are subscribed, the button will have a green background. To unsubscribe, click the Subscribe button and the background will turn gray.
To edit the discussion topic, click the Edit button [6].
To open options for the discussion, click the Options icon [7]. Options allows you to mark all existing posts (replies) as read, delete the discussion, and close the discussion for comments. If your discussion is graded, you can view the rubric for the discussion, if any, as well as access SpeedGrader to grade the discussion.
You can view how many unread and replies are in a thread [8]. The number on the left indicates unread replies, while the number on the right indicates the total number of replies.
Note: The Discussions page supports keyboard shortcuts. To view a window with a list of keyboard navigation shortcuts, press Alt+F8 (on a PC keyboard) or Option+Fn+F8 (on a Mac keyboard) simultaneously on your keyboard.
View Graded Discussion
If your discussion is a graded discussion, you can view the discussion the same way as regular discussions. However, you can view the number of points the discussion is worth [1], and if there is a due date [2]. The Options icon [3] will show the rubric for the graded discussion, if any, as well as a link to SpeedGrader.
View Group Discussion
If a discussion is a group discussion, you can view the groups that have access to the discussion. To access and view the group discussion, click the group links.
Group discussions only appear for students if they are a member of the group.
View Replies
Discussion replies are shown in order of post date. In discussion replies, the unread icon indicates the reply is new and unread [1]. The read icon indicates a reply is read [2]. When you navigate away from the discussion or refresh the page, Canvas automatically marks the replies as read. After Canvas has changed the reply status, you can manually mark discussion replies as read or unread at any time.
You can also change your Discussion Settings so you can manually mark discussion replies as read.
View Threaded Discussion
Threaded Discussions are discussions with replies within replies. In addition to post date, replies are shown in hierarchal order, with replies naturally indented to indicate when a student replies to another student's reply.
When viewing threaded discussion replies, collapse and expand individual threaded discussions by hovering over the top of the white box containing the entire reply [1]. When a threaded discussion reply is collapsed, you can view the reply indicators showing the number of unread and total replies [2].
View Liked Discussions
If you allow students to like replies in a discussion, a Like icon appears next to each reply in the discussion. Blue icons indicate replies that you've liked. The number of total likes also appears next to the icon.
If you set up the discussion to sort automatically according to the number of likes, in threaded discussions, likes are retained with the original discussion reply. Original replies will always sort first, and any associated replies will be reordered beginning with the highest-liked reply.
View Enrollment Notice
If a discussion includes a reply from an inactive student, a label displays next to the student's name. Inactive student graded discussions can still be graded in SpeedGrader, but students do not receive any notifications about their discussion and cannot view course grades.
Search for Reply and View Reply in Discussion
To search for a discussion reply, enter any term in the Search field [1]. Search results include matches for user names and reply text [2].
To clear search results and view the reply as part of the entire discussion, click the View in discussion link [3].
To copy a direct link to the discussion reply, right click the View in discussion link and select the Copy Link Address option [4].
View Reply Settings
Each discussion reply has its own options menu.
In original discussion replies, you can return to the main discussion topic by clicking the Go to Topic link [1].
In threaded discussions, if you are viewing a reply within a reply, return to the original reply by clicking the Go to Parent link [2].
To edit or delete the reply, click the Edit or Delete links [3].
View Graded Discussion Settings
Graded discussions also include an Open in SpeedGrader link to grade the discussion replies.
