{"id":1058,"date":"2024-04-05T18:52:52","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T22:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1058"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:56:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:56:26","slug":"discussions","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/discussions\/","title":{"raw":"Discussions","rendered":"Discussions"},"content":{"raw":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\">Discussions<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n<div class=\"imgcontainer right\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"noborder wp-image-1700 alignnone icon\" style=\"min-width: 100px\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/BrightspaceLogo-150x150-1.png\" alt=\"Brightspace logo\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/>\r\n<div class=\"media_text\">Discussions are an effective way to stimulate student engagement and collaboration, foster a sense of community, offer feedback, and help students explore the course content. Asynchronous discussions encourage deeper reflection and critical thinking, enhance student exposure to various course materials, present students with diverse perspectives, and enable instructors to assess student learning.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"quick\" style=\"background-color: #01725c;margin-top: 2.5em\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Discussions<\/strong> is Discussions guide 1 of 2.<\/span><\/div>\r\n<h2>Setting up a discussion forum, topic, and thread<\/h2>\r\nD2L discussions are organized into the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Forum: broad categories for discussion<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Topic: specific discussions within the forum<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Thread: student response within the topic<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Adding a Topic and Forum<\/div>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-1768 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions1-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"470\" \/>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Navigate to\u00a0<strong>Course Materials<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Content<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>From the Table of Contents, select the module where you\u2019d like to add the Discussion.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Click <strong>Upload\/Create<\/strong> &gt;\u00a0<strong>New Discussion\u00a0<\/strong>if you are creating a new discussion. If your Discussion already exists, you can click <strong>Existing Activities <\/strong>&gt;\u00a0<strong>Discussion<\/strong> and select the Forum\/Topic you wish to add.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Give your new topic a <strong>Topic Title<\/strong> and add instructions for your students in the <strong>Description<\/strong> textbox.\u00a0You can set <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/dates-deadlines-and-availability-new\/\">availability dates<\/a>, release conditions, and group restrictions to your topic. You can also add rubrics and evaluate topics, if you provide a <strong>Grade Out Of<\/strong> score.\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1770\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"574\" height=\"403\" \/><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Click <strong>Change Forum<\/strong> to add a new Forum or link to an existing Forum.\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1772\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"574\" height=\"428\" \/><\/li>\r\n \t<li>If you are creating a new forum, provide a <strong>Forum Title<\/strong> or if a forum exists, choose it from the dropdown. Click <strong>Apply Changes<\/strong>.\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1774\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"411\" height=\"275\" \/>\r\n<strong>Note:<\/strong> Forums are used to group discussion topics. Users cannot post to Forums directly; posting requires a topic to be created first.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>At the bottom of the screen, toggle the topic from <strong>Hidden<\/strong> to <strong>Visible<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Click <strong>Save and Close<\/strong> when done.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<details><summary>Group Discussions<\/summary>As part of the Groups creation process, you have the option to create associated Discussions at the same time. However, it\u2019s also possible to create Discussions and Groups separately and then connect them later.\r\n\r\nIf you want to link a Discussion with Groups, you can link them in the Topic settings.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Go to <strong>Communication<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Discussions<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Find the name of the Discussion topic, click the arrow to show the drop-down, and select <strong>Edit Topic<\/strong> from the options\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2127\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"423\" height=\"406\" \/><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Expand the\u00a0<strong>Availability Date &amp; Conditions\u00a0<\/strong>settings on the right<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Click on\u00a0<strong>Manage Restrictions\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2128\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"851\" height=\"489\" \/><\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nTo manage restrictions, take the following steps:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Group and Section Restrictions<\/strong>: Select <strong>Restrict topic and separate threads<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Select who will see this topic<\/strong>: Select the <strong>Group<\/strong> you want to link to in the drop-down options<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Click\u00a0<strong>Add<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/details>\r\n<div class=\"flex-grid\">\r\n<div class=\"col\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Editing Topics<\/div>\r\nIf you need to make any updates or changes to a topic, navigate to <strong>Communication<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Discussions<\/strong>. Expand the dropdown menu beside the topic and select <strong>Edit Topic<\/strong>.\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-1080\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-221x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"310\" \/>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"col\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Adding Additional Topics<\/div>\r\nAdditional topics can be added to already created forums. To do this, expand the dropdown menu in the discussion forum you wish to add another topic and click <strong>Add Topic<\/strong>.\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-1081 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6-250x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"250\" \/>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Adding a Thread\/Post<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"flex-grid\">\r\n<div class=\"col\">\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>In the topic where you want to add a thread, click <strong>Start a New Thread<\/strong>.\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-1074 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions8-269x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"200\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"col\">\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n \t<li>Add a title to the thread and discussion into the textbox. In Brightspace Discussions, you are not limited to posting text. You can post video, audio, images, etc. Consider giving students options in their modes of expression.<img class=\"wp-image-1075 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-300x199.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"415\" height=\"275\" \/><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Click <strong>Post<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Further Resources<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/campus\/asynchronous-discussions-how-and-why\">Asynchronous discussions \u2013 how and why<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mlpp.pressbooks.pub\/mavlearn\/chapter\/effective-practices-for-teaching-with-online-discussions\/\">Effective Practices for Teaching with Online Discussions<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/elearning.lcc.edu\/d2l-help\/discussions\/facilitating-discussions\/\">Facilitating Discussions in D2L<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwaterloo.ca\/centre-for-teaching-excellence\/catalogs\/tip-sheets\/online-discussions-tips-instructors-0\">Online Discussions: Tips for Instructors<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwaterloo.ca\/centre-for-teaching-excellence\/catalogs\/tip-sheets\/online-discussions-tips-students\">Online Discussions: Tips for Students<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facultyfocus.com\/articles\/online-education\/online-discussion-questions-work\/\">Online Discussion Questions That Work<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"imgcontainer right\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"noborder wp-image-3032 alignnone icon\" style=\"max-width: 101px\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2025\/09\/Arrow.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"101\" height=\"96\" \/>\r\n<div class=\"media_text\">Discussions can also be used as an assessment. Move to the <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/assessing-topics\/\">next quick guide on assessing topics<\/a> to learn about easy grading of discussions.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact edtech@langara.ca for more information.<\/p>\r\n<img class=\"noborder img.chapter aligncenter wp-image-63\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0em\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-300x131.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"66\" \/>\r\n<div style=\"border: 1px #555 solid;padding: 1em;margin-top: 1em\">If you are a Langara employee, <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/edtech\/blog\/2025\/08\/28\/self-register-for-essentials-to-excellence-a-brightspace-companion-for-instructors\/\">self-register for Essentials to Excellence: A Brightspace Companion for Instructors<\/a>. This Brightspace course compliments the technical instructions found here with use cases, examples, and advice.<\/div>","rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\">Discussions<\/h1>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<div class=\"imgcontainer right\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"noborder wp-image-1700 alignnone icon\" style=\"min-width: 100px\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/BrightspaceLogo-150x150-1.png\" alt=\"Brightspace logo\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/BrightspaceLogo-150x150-1.png 150w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/BrightspaceLogo-150x150-1-65x65.png 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"media_text\">Discussions are an effective way to stimulate student engagement and collaboration, foster a sense of community, offer feedback, and help students explore the course content. Asynchronous discussions encourage deeper reflection and critical thinking, enhance student exposure to various course materials, present students with diverse perspectives, and enable instructors to assess student learning.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"quick\" style=\"background-color: #01725c;margin-top: 2.5em\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Discussions<\/strong> is Discussions guide 1 of 2.<\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Setting up a discussion forum, topic, and thread<\/h2>\n<p>D2L discussions are organized into the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Forum: broad categories for discussion<\/li>\n<li>Topic: specific discussions within the forum<\/li>\n<li>Thread: student response within the topic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Adding a Topic and Forum<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1768 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions1-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions1-1.png 378w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions1-1-122x300.png 122w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions1-1-65x160.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions1-1-225x554.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions1-1-350x862.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" \/><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Navigate to\u00a0<strong>Course Materials<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Content<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>From the Table of Contents, select the module where you\u2019d like to add the Discussion.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Upload\/Create<\/strong> &gt;\u00a0<strong>New Discussion\u00a0<\/strong>if you are creating a new discussion. If your Discussion already exists, you can click <strong>Existing Activities <\/strong>&gt;\u00a0<strong>Discussion<\/strong> and select the Forum\/Topic you wish to add.<\/li>\n<li>Give your new topic a <strong>Topic Title<\/strong> and add instructions for your students in the <strong>Description<\/strong> textbox.\u00a0You can set <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/dates-deadlines-and-availability-new\/\">availability dates<\/a>, release conditions, and group restrictions to your topic. You can also add rubrics and evaluate topics, if you provide a <strong>Grade Out Of<\/strong> score.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1770\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"574\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1.png 1606w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1-1024x719.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1-768x539.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1-1536x1078.png 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1-65x46.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1-225x158.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions2-1-350x246.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Change Forum<\/strong> to add a new Forum or link to an existing Forum.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1772\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"574\" height=\"428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1.png 1478w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1-65x48.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1-225x168.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions3-1-350x261.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>If you are creating a new forum, provide a <strong>Forum Title<\/strong> or if a forum exists, choose it from the dropdown. Click <strong>Apply Changes<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1774\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"411\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1.png 1055w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1-1024x685.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1-768x514.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1-65x43.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1-225x151.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions4-1-350x234.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\" \/><br \/>\n<strong>Note:<\/strong> Forums are used to group discussion topics. Users cannot post to Forums directly; posting requires a topic to be created first.<\/li>\n<li>At the bottom of the screen, toggle the topic from <strong>Hidden<\/strong> to <strong>Visible<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Save and Close<\/strong> when done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<details>\n<summary>Group Discussions<\/summary>\n<p>As part of the Groups creation process, you have the option to create associated Discussions at the same time. However, it\u2019s also possible to create Discussions and Groups separately and then connect them later.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to link a Discussion with Groups, you can link them in the Topic settings.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to <strong>Communication<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Discussions<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Find the name of the Discussion topic, click the arrow to show the drop-down, and select <strong>Edit Topic<\/strong> from the options<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2127\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"423\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture1.png 423w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture1-300x288.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture1-65x62.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture1-225x216.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture1-350x336.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 423px) 100vw, 423px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Expand the\u00a0<strong>Availability Date &amp; Conditions\u00a0<\/strong>settings on the right<\/li>\n<li>Click on\u00a0<strong>Manage Restrictions<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2128\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"851\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2.png 851w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2-768x441.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2-65x37.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2-225x129.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Picture2-350x201.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 851px) 100vw, 851px\" \/><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To manage restrictions, take the following steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Group and Section Restrictions<\/strong>: Select <strong>Restrict topic and separate threads<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Select who will see this topic<\/strong>: Select the <strong>Group<\/strong> you want to link to in the drop-down options<\/li>\n<li>Click\u00a0<strong>Add<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"flex-grid\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Editing Topics<\/div>\n<p>If you need to make any updates or changes to a topic, navigate to <strong>Communication<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Discussions<\/strong>. Expand the dropdown menu beside the topic and select <strong>Edit Topic<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1080\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-221x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-221x300.png 221w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-754x1024.png 754w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-768x1043.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-65x88.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-225x306.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5-350x475.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions5.png 785w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col\">\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Adding Additional Topics<\/div>\n<p>Additional topics can be added to already created forums. To do this, expand the dropdown menu in the discussion forum you wish to add another topic and click <strong>Add Topic<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1081 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6-250x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6-250x300.png 250w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6-768x921.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6-65x78.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6-225x270.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6-350x420.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions6.png 821w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--list\">Adding a Thread\/Post<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex-grid\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<ol>\n<li>In the topic where you want to add a thread, click <strong>Start a New Thread<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1074 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions8-269x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions8-269x300.png 269w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions8-65x72.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions8-225x251.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions8-350x390.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions8.png 686w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 179px) 100vw, 179px\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col\">\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>Add a title to the thread and discussion into the textbox. In Brightspace Discussions, you are not limited to posting text. You can post video, audio, images, etc. Consider giving students options in their modes of expression.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1075 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-300x199.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"415\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-1024x679.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-768x509.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-65x43.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-225x149.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9-350x232.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/04\/Discussions9.png 1298w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Post<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Further Resources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/campus\/asynchronous-discussions-how-and-why\">Asynchronous discussions \u2013 how and why<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mlpp.pressbooks.pub\/mavlearn\/chapter\/effective-practices-for-teaching-with-online-discussions\/\">Effective Practices for Teaching with Online Discussions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/elearning.lcc.edu\/d2l-help\/discussions\/facilitating-discussions\/\">Facilitating Discussions in D2L<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwaterloo.ca\/centre-for-teaching-excellence\/catalogs\/tip-sheets\/online-discussions-tips-instructors-0\">Online Discussions: Tips for Instructors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwaterloo.ca\/centre-for-teaching-excellence\/catalogs\/tip-sheets\/online-discussions-tips-students\">Online Discussions: Tips for Students<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facultyfocus.com\/articles\/online-education\/online-discussion-questions-work\/\">Online Discussion Questions That Work<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"imgcontainer right\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"noborder wp-image-3032 alignnone icon\" style=\"max-width: 101px\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2025\/09\/Arrow.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"101\" height=\"96\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"media_text\">Discussions can also be used as an assessment. Move to the <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/assessing-topics\/\">next quick guide on assessing topics<\/a> to learn about easy grading of discussions.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact edtech@langara.ca for more information.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"noborder img.chapter aligncenter wp-image-63\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0em\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-300x131.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"66\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-768x336.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-65x28.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-225x99.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-350x153.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px #555 solid;padding: 1em;margin-top: 1em\">If you are a Langara employee, <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/edtech\/blog\/2025\/08\/28\/self-register-for-essentials-to-excellence-a-brightspace-companion-for-instructors\/\">self-register for Essentials to Excellence: A Brightspace Companion for Instructors<\/a>. This Brightspace course compliments the technical instructions found here with use cases, examples, and advice.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2227,"menu_order":16,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1058","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2227"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3343,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1058\/revisions\/3343"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1058\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1058"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1058"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}