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Canvas - How do I create a discussion?
The Discussions page allows you to connect with students and allows them to respond to each other. To get to Discussions, use the Discussions tab on the course navigation menu. There are settings related to how much control students will have on class discussions, as well as options to make discussions graded or group-based. Some settings, once toggled on, are maintained for every discussion post, while other settings are set for individual discussion posts. You can also attach images, rubrics, and other media to discussion posts.
Resources
Creating and editing discussions
- Canvas guide: How do I create a discussion as an instructor?
- Canvas guide: How do I use Draft State in Discussions?
- Canvas guide: How do I assign a graded discussion to everyone in a course?
- Canvas guide: How do I delay posting a discussion until a specified date in a course?
Managing Discussions
- Canvas guide: How do I subscribe to a discussion as an instructor?
- Canvas guide: How do I delete a discussion in a course?
- Canvas guide: How do I close a discussion for comments in a course?
- Canvas guide: How do I move or reorder a discussion in a course?
Replying
- Canvas guide: How do I reply to a discussion as an instructor?
- Canvas guide: How do I view and sort discussion replies as an instructor?
- Canvas guide: How can I require students to reply to a course discussion before they see other replies?
- Canvas guide: How do I edit or delete student discussion replies in a course?
- Canvas guide: How do I embed an image in a discussion reply as an instructor?
- Canvas guide: How do I attach a file to a discussion reply as an instructor?
- Canvas guide: How do I link to a YouTube video in a discussion reply as an instructor?
Tips and Tricks
- By default, graded discussions in a course will be assigned to everyone in the course. You can also choose to assign them to individuals, course groups, or course sections.
- Students cannot upload files to a discussion reply unless you allow students to attach files to a discussion or you check that option in the course settings. You can also allow students to like discussion posts.
- You can allow students to edit and delete their own discussion posts by changing the settings from the Discussions page or the course settings. When enabled, this setting also applies to group discussions.
- Students can be allowed to create discussion posts by changing the settings from the Discussion page or from the course settings.
- By default, as you read new discussion posts, Canvas will mark them as read. You can flag which discussion posts you need to go back to by manually marking them as unread or can adjust the settings so they will not automatically mark your discussion replies as read.
- Pin discussions that you want students to see at the top of the Discussions index page or to keep discussions in a certain order.
- Graded discussions can be graded in SpeedGrader.
24/7/365 Canvas chat and email support is available through the help icon in Canvas or by calling the phone support for faculty, staff and students.