Page Comparison

Interface Modifications

The Canvas Discussion Tool interface has been expanded for maximum space and ensure responsive views.

The following modifications have been made to individual topics:

• The toolbar has been moved to the top of the discussion and announcement thread.

• Newest replies display at the top of the first page instead of the bottom of the last page.

• Users can sort replies from newest to oldest, or oldest to newest.

• Users can also quickly move to the top of the discussion or announcement at any time. 

 Feature Parity

The following functionality has been included for parity with classic Discussions: 

• Users must post before seeing replies

• Reply posts can be marked as read or unread

• Discussion time stamp edit display

• Multiple Due Dates (addition: individual student names are displayed instead of the total number of students)

• Available From and Until Dates

• Previous/Next buttons for Modules

• Group Discussions

• Peer Review

• Add to student to-do list

Additional Functionality

Role Labels

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.

Flexible Viewing Options

When a reply includes additional replies, the number of replies is displayed, as well as the number of unread replies (specific to the user viewing the reply). Users can choose to view these replies inline or in a split view.

Mentions

Users can mention other users in discussion replies by using the @ symbol. All available users in the course display in the drop-down menu.

Note: For users to be able to mention other users in discussion replies, the permission Conversations - send messages to individual course members needs to be enabled.

If they are mentioned, users with the Discussions - New Mention notification enabled will receive notifications.

Quotes

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

Reply Reporting

Within individual discussions, replies can be reported by students and teachers. Teachers can choose to enable reporting in the Discussions Settings menu.

Once enabled, all users can report replies by clicking the Settings menu for the reply and clicking the Report link. 

When a reply is reported by a user, the user must indicate why the reply is being reported (inappropriate, offensive and/or abusive, or Other). Reporting a reply cannot be undone.

Once a user reports a reply, the Settings menu option displays to that user as Reported. That user cannot report the reply again, but other users can still report the reply. 

Reported Reply Notifications (Teachers)

To be notified of reported replies, teachers can enable the Discussions Reported Reply notification when accessing course-level notifications from inside a course. If you select a course and then go to View Course Notifications on the Home page, the option will be there. Email notifications include a direct link to the reply that has been reported. 

Reporting a reply does not hide the reply; all replies are still visible to all users. However, teachers can choose to edit or delete the reported reply.

Note: Once a reply is reported, it always displays as Reported and cannot be cleared by teachers.

Anonymous Discussions

Discussions allow teachers to create anonymous discussions. This option displays when creating a new discussion for a course. By default this option is set to off.

When anonymity is turned on for a discussion, grading and groups are not supported.

When the Discussion Settings menu option is selected for students to create discussions, the option is also included to allow students to create anonymous discussions. This option is not selected by default.

When an anonymous discussion exists in the course, the Discussions page indicates anonymous discussions before a student opens the discussion.

Users with a teacher, TA, or designer role in the course will never be anonymous. However, student names and profile pictures are hidden from other course members, including teachers. Admins who are not explicitly enrolled as a teacher, TA, or designer and create a reply also display as anonymous. Additionally, users who view a course without having a course enrollment (such as when participating in a public course) also display as anonymous.

Anonymous discussion posts include the standard settings options, including reporting replies.

When an observer views a fully anonymous discussion, the text now displays This is an anonymous Discussion. Student names and profile pictures are hidden. When an observer views a partially anonymous discussion, the text now displays Students have the option to reply anonymously. Some names and profile pictures may be hidden.