Post, Read and Reply to Discussion Threads

Intended Audience: Students

About

The Discussions tool in Brightspace allows students to communicate and collaborate on course topics. Students can post original ideas, respond to classmates, ask questions, share files, and participate in group work. This guide walks students through how to post, read, and reply to discussion threads as part of their coursework.

Instruction

Accessing a Discussion

1. From the Lessons page, select a discussion tile (identified by a chat icon or the word “Discussion” in the title).
2. Review any instructions provided at the top of the discussion topic.
3. For grading information, select the "Discussion" link.
   

Posting a New Thread

Some discussions are hidden until the student creates an initial post. To begin a thread:

1. Tap the Start a New Thread button at the bottom of the discussion page.
   
2. Enter a title in the Subject line.
3. In the text box below the subject, type the content of the post. Students may use the toolbar to:
   1. Format text
   2. Insert links, images, or videos
   3. Check spelling or use HTML tools
4. To attach a file, expand the "Add Attachments" section. Options include uploading, recording, or selecting an existing file.
5. When the post is ready, tap the "Post" button to submit.

Replying to a Thread

To reply to a classmate's thread:

1. Scroll through the discussion and select the blue discussion title of the thread to reply to.
2. Tap the Reply to Thread button.
3. A reply form will open with the subject automatically filled in.
4. Enter the response in the open text box, then select Post to submit.

Alternatively, students can go to the Discussions tab from the Brightspace Navbar, find the discussion topic, and select "View Topic" from the drop-down menu. Then select the desired thread and tap "Reply to Thread" to post a response.

Viewing Discussions: Lessons vs. Discussions Page

• Lessons Page: Discussions are embedded as part of the course progression. Students are expected to post in these to receive grades based on rubrics.
• Discussions Page: After posting, students can use this view to see all discussions and reply to threads of interest. To manage navigation:
  • Collapse all topics
  • Expand only the threads relevant to the student

Receiving Notifications for Discussion Activity

Students can follow specific discussion threads using the subscriptions feature:

1. On the Lessons page, locate the star icon next to the "Subscribe" text beside a discussion.
2. Tap the star to subscribe.
3. Choose a preferred notification method:
   • Minibar Notification: Display alerts using the bell icon in Brightspace.
   • Instant Notification: Receive alerts by phone (phone info must be set in profile settings).
   • Summary of Activity: Add notifications to the weekly email summary.