Discussions Redesign

Canvas Redesigned Discussions

Canvas has recently undergone a Discussions/Announcements Redesign. This revamp introduces several exciting features and enhancements to improve the user experience. Key changes:

1. Multiple Sorting and Viewing Options: Users can choose from different viewing modes for discussion threads. 
2. @ Mentions and “Likes”: Canvas now supports mentioning other students within discussion posts. To further promote engagement, the “Likes” feature allows students and instructors to express their appreciation for specific discussion posts by clicking the thumbs up icon next to each post. This feature fosters positive engagement and encourages meaningful interactions within the Canvas community. 
3. Quote Reply: The redesigned interface allows users to quote and reply to specific parts of a discussion thread. 
4. Edit History: Keep track of changes! 
5. Anonymous Discussions: Instructors now have the option to enable full or partial anonymity when setting up ungraded discussions. 

When participating in a Canvas redesign discussion, having sorting options can greatly enhance the user experience and make it easier to find relevant information. Sorting options allow users to organize the discussion based on their preferences and needs. Here are some common sorting options that can be added at the bottom of the Canvas redesign discussion:

1. Newest First

The "Newest First" sorting option displays the most recent comments or posts at the top of the discussion thread. This is useful when you want to stay up to date with the latest developments and see the most recent contributions from other participants.

2. Oldest First

On the other hand, the "Oldest First" sorting option arranges the comments or posts in chronological order, with the oldest ones appearing at the top. This can be helpful when you want to start from the beginning and follow the progression of the discussion from its initial stages.

Canvas discussions offers two types of views for both instructors and students.

These two views offer different ways to interact with and explore discussions in Canvas. The inline view emphasizes the hierarchy of posts and replies, making it easier to follow specific conversations. On the other hand, the split screen view provides a more efficient way to navigate between different discussion threads and view their content simultaneously.

Both views have their own advantages and can be chosen based on personal preference or the specific needs of a discussion.

Inline View

The "Inline View" is a sorting option that displays comments or replies directly underneath the parent comment, without any visual hierarchy. This view allows for a continuous flow of the discussion, making it easier to read and follow the conversation in a linear manner.

When in the Inline View, the Expand Threads view is a sorting option that organizes the discussion in a hierarchical structure, grouping related comments or replies together. This allows for a more organized and streamlined reading experience, as it helps to display the flow and progression of the conversation. 

By expanding threads, users can easily follow and understand the different sub-conversations within the discussion, making it easier to navigate and participate in the overall exchange of ideas. This makes it easier to follow specific conversations within the larger discussion and to navigate through different threads.

Split Screen View

In the split screen view, the discussion panel is divided into two sections. The left section displays the list of discussion topics or threads, while the right section shows the selected discussion thread in detail. This view allows users to quickly navigate between different threads and view the content of a specific thread simultaneously.

Group discussions are a valuable tool for promoting collaboration and engagement among students. By following the steps outlined below, you will be able to easily navigate and participate in group discussions within Canvas.

Accessing Group Discussions

To access group discussions, follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Canvas account.
2. Navigate to the course where you want to access the group discussions.
3. Click on the "Discussions" tab in the course navigation menu.
4. On the Discussions page, you will see a list of all the discussions in the course. Locate the discussion that is designated as a group discussion.
5. Navigate to the group discussion page.
6. To view the different discussion groups, select the group icon located at the top of the page.
     

The Mention and "Like" functionalities in Canvas discussions enhance communication and engagement within the platform. Mentions enable users to directly reference or notify specific individuals by tagging them in posts or comments, facilitating targeted communication and collaboration. Meanwhile, the "Like" feature allows users to express appreciation for posts or comments they find valuable or insightful, fostering positive reinforcement and community building. Together, these features promote active participation, increase visibility for meaningful contributions, and cultivate a dynamic and supportive learning environment within Canvas discussions.

The Mention feature has been automatically activated with the redesign. The “Like” feature must be turned on when editing the discussion page. It is located under the Options settings. Place a checkmark in the box to the left of Allow Liking, then save.

Mentions:

• What are Mentions? Mentions allow users to tag or reference other users within a discussion post or comment by using the "@" symbol followed by their username. For example, typing "@JohnDoe" in a post will notify John Doe that they have been mentioned in that specific discussion.
• How do Mentions Work? When a user is mentioned in a discussion post or comment, Canvas sends them a notification, typically via email or within the Canvas platform itself, informing them that they have been tagged. This allows users to quickly identify posts or comments that are relevant to them and encourages targeted communication within the discussion.
• Benefits of Mentions:
  • Enhanced Communication: Mentions facilitate direct communication between users, enabling them to address specific individuals or groups within the discussion.
  • Increased Engagement: Users are more likely to engage in discussions when they are directly referenced or tagged, leading to higher levels of participation and interaction.
  • Efficient Collaboration: Mentions streamline collaboration by ensuring that relevant stakeholders are notified and involved in relevant discussions or decision-making processes.

"Like" Functionality:

• What is "Like" Functionality? Similar to social media platforms, "like" functionality in Canvas discussions allows users to express approval or appreciation for specific posts or comments by clicking a "like" button.
• How does "Like" Functionality Work? Users can simply click on the "like" button associated with a post or comment to indicate that they found it helpful, insightful, or valuable. The number of likes a post receives is typically displayed alongside the post itself.
• Benefits of "Like" Functionality:
  • Positive Reinforcement: "Likes" provide positive reinforcement and recognition to users for contributing meaningful content to discussions, encouraging continued engagement.
  • Content Visibility: Posts with a higher number of likes are often prioritized or highlighted within the discussion, making them more visible to other users and potentially sparking further discussion.
  • Community Building: "Likes" foster a sense of community within the discussion by allowing users to acknowledge and support each other's contributions, ultimately strengthening the collaborative learning environment.

Conclusion: Mentions and "like" functionality in Canvas discussions serve as powerful tools for enhancing communication, fostering engagement, and building community among users. By facilitating targeted communication through mentions and promoting positive interaction through likes, Canvas discussions become more dynamic, inclusive, and effective platforms for collaborative learning and knowledge sharing.

Discussion and announcement threads display a label for users with TA roles and Teacher (Instructor) roles. This feature helps students more quickly identify users with instructor-based roles in the course.

Threads also include a label indicating the discussion or announcement author.

Users can quote other replies as part of their discussion reply.

Anonymous discussions in Canvas provide a platform where participants' identities are concealed, fostering open and honest dialogue without fear of judgment or bias based on individual identities. This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where sensitive topics are being discussed, such as personal experiences, feedback on course materials, or peer evaluations. By anonymizing contributions, students may feel more comfortable sharing their perspectives, leading to more candid and constructive discussions. Instructors can leverage anonymous discussions to encourage participation from all students, promote diversity of thought, and facilitate a supportive learning environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued.

Best Practices: Only use Anonymous Discussions for Polls or sensitive topics that are ungraded (it is recommended that the Reporting feature be turned off for all anonymous discussions).

While anonymous discussions in Canvas offer benefits in promoting open communication and participation, there are also some cautions to consider:

1. Loss of Accountability: Without the ability to identify individual contributors, there is a risk of decreased accountability for the content shared. Students may be more inclined to post inappropriate or off-topic comments if they believe their identity is concealed.
2. Potential for Abuse: The anonymity provided by these discussions can lead to misuse, such as posting derogatory or disrespectful comments. Instructors must actively monitor discussions to ensure that they remain respectful and conducive to a positive learning environment.
3. Challenges in Assessment: Assessing individual participation and contributions becomes more challenging in anonymous discussions. Instructors may need to rely on other assessment methods or tools to evaluate students' engagement and understanding of the course material.
4. Lack of Personal Connection: Anonymity can hinder the development of personal connections and relationships among students within the online learning environment. This may impact collaboration and peer learning opportunities.
5. Potential for Misinterpretation: Without context or clarification from the contributor, comments made in anonymous discussions may be more prone to misinterpretation. Instructors should encourage clear and respectful communication to mitigate this risk.
6. Limited Feedback Opportunities: The anonymous nature of discussions may limit opportunities for providing individualized feedback or guidance to students. Instructors should find alternative methods for offering support and encouragement to students who may need it.

By considering these cautions and implementing appropriate guidelines and monitoring strategies, instructors can effectively leverage anonymous discussions in Canvas to facilitate meaningful and respectful dialogue while minimizing potential risks.

Creating an anonymous discussion is easily completed by following the instructions below:

1. Go to the Discussions tab on the Course Menu.
2. Click the Add Discussion tab on the top right of the page.
3. Add a title for your discussion in the Topic Title field [1].
4. To add discussion content, use the Rich Content Editor [2]. The Rich Content Editor includes a word count display below the bottom right corner of the text box [3].
    
5. Under Discussion Options there are three options for selecting Anonymous Discussion.
    
   By default, student names and profile pictures display in discussions [1]. To allow students to decide to display their names and profile pictures, click the Partial: students can choose to reveal their name and profile picture option [2]. To enable anonymous discussions and hide student names and profile pictures, click the Full: student names and profile pictures will be hidden option [3].
   
   NOTE: Transitioning a discussion from having the anonymous feature enabled to partial or full anonymity, or vice versa, is not possible.

Instructors have the flexibility to select the discussion options which will best work for their desired results. Instructors can require users to reply to the discussion before they can see any other replies. Other options include enabling a discussion podcast feed, allowing students to like discussion replies, adding ungraded discussions to student to-do lists, and creating group discussions. Availability dates can also be set to control when discussions are accessible to students. 

Note: Keep in mind that anonymous discussions do not support graded discussions or group discussions.

To require users to reply to the discussion before they can see any other replies, click the Users must post before seeing replies checkbox [4].

To enable a discussion podcast feed, click the Enable podcast feed checkbox [5].

To allow students to like discussion replies, click the Allow liking checkbox [6].

To add an ungraded discussion to the student to-do list, click the Add to student to-do checkbox [7]. Student to-do items display in the course calendar, in the student-specific List View Dashboard, and in the global and course home page to-do lists. Graded discussions automatically display in a student's to-do list.

To make the discussion a group discussion, click the This is a Group Discussion checkbox [8].

To make your discussion available on a specific date or during a specific date range using availability dates, enter the dates in the Available From and Until fields [9], or click the calendar icons to select dates. If you create a graded discussion, the Available From and Until dates can be set in the Assign field. Before the Available From date, students will only be able to view the discussion title. After the Until date, students can view the discussion topic and all responses but cannot add or edit any responses. 

To create a graded discussion, click the Graded checkbox. If this option is selected, additional options will be added to the page, where you can assign graded discussions to everyone, individual students, course sections, or course groups. 

Note: If you want to create a graded discussion and you have added sections in the Post To field, the Graded option will be unavailable. You must remove the sections from the Post To field before selecting this option. You will be able to add sections as part of the graded discussion options.

If you are ready to publish your discussion, click the Save & Publish button [1]. If you want to create a draft of your discussion and publish it later, click the Save button [2].

When your discussion is saved but not published, you can go to the discussion page and publish it at any time by clicking the Publish icon in the Discussions Redesign interface or publish on the Modules page.

The Reply Reporting feature empowers users within Canvas discussions and announcements to maintain a respectful and safe online environment. When encountering inappropriate, offensive, or abusive replies, users can report them by clicking the Settings menu next to the reply and selecting the Report button. Instructors can then review reported content and take appropriate action. This functionality encourages responsible behavior and contributes to a positive learning community. 

• Reply Reporting Has Been Defaulted to On in Courses:
  • Instructors can disable reply reporting in the Discussions Settings menu by going to the Discussions tab on the Course Menu. Then select the cog in the upper right corner of the page. Uncheck Report Replies and Save Settings.
     
• How Users Report Replies:
  • When a user encounters a problematic reply, they can follow these steps: 
    • Click the Settings menu (usually represented by three dots) next to the reply.
    • Select the Report button.
    • Specify the reason for reporting (e.g., inappropriate content).
       

• Reporting ensures that instructors and administrators are aware of potential issues.

Note: When reporting a discussion post, students should exercise caution for several reasons:

1. Misunderstandings:
   1. Sometimes, a post may be misinterpreted due to lack of context or tone.
   2. Reporting without fully understanding the intent behind a post could lead to unnecessary consequences.
2. Retaliation:
   1. Reporting a peer’s post might strain relationships within the class.
   2. Some students may feel offended or retaliate if they discover their post was reported.
3. Impact on Learning Environment:
   1. Overreporting can create a tense atmosphere in the discussion forum.
   2. It’s essential to maintain a positive and collaborative learning environment.
4. Instructor Review:
   1. Instructors review reported content.
   2. If a student repeatedly reports posts without valid reasons, it may affect their credibility.
5. Reporting Posts Cannot be Undone:
   1. Once a post has been reported, it cannot be undone.
   2. Anonymous discussions do not allow an instructor to see who reported the post to get proper understanding on why the post was reported.

• Instructor Actions:

• Instructors can review reported replies and take appropriate action.
• They can address the reported content, provide guidance, or escalate the matter if necessary.
• User Experience:
  • The reporting feature empowers users to maintain a respectful and safe discussion environment.
  • It encourages responsible behavior and discourages harmful content.

Remember, fostering a positive and respectful online community is essential for effective learning and collaboration. If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to report them! For more detailed information, refer to the official data sheet or explore the Canvas Discussions Redesign Overview event. 

Canvas at JHU Discussions Redesign in Canvas