How do I assign a graded discussion to everyone in a course?

By default, graded discussions you create in your course will be assigned to everyone. You can specify a due date and availability dates that apply to everyone. You can also assign a graded discussion to an individual student, course section, or course group.

When Multiple Grading Periods are enabled in a course, assignments are also respected against closed grading periods.

Open Discussions

Open Discussions

In Course Navigation, click the Discussions link.

Add Discussion

Click the Add Discussion button.

Enter Discussion Details

Enter Discussion Details

Enter a topic title [1] and discussion details [2].

Set Graded Discussion

Set Graded Discussion

Click the Graded checkbox.

Enter Grading Details

Enter Grading Details

Enter the number of points possible [1]. Select the Grading Type [2] and Assignment Group [3], and assign Peer Reviews [4], if any.

Assign to Everyone

Assign to Everyone

By default, Canvas will assign your graded discussion for everyone in your course.

Edit Due and Availability Dates

Edit Due and Availability Dates

In the date fields, add your preferred date(s) with the following options:

  • Due [1]: Set the date and time that the graded discussion is due. The due date will already be populated for you if you created a discussion shell, but you can change it if necessary.
  • Available From [2]: Set the date and time when the discussion will become available.
  • Until [3]: Set the date and time when the discussion will no longer be available.

Notes:

  • If you have set section override dates in your course, you may need to select a course section and set due and availability dates that fall within the section override dates
  • Beneath the Due Date and Availability Date fields, Canvas will display the time zone date and time according to context. If you manage courses in a time zone other than your local time zone and create or edit a due date for a discussion, the course and local times are displayed for reference.

Save and Publish

Save and Publish

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].

View Date Error

View Date Error

If you submit an invalid string of due dates and try to save the discussion, Canvas generates an error notification. Such invalid entries include not unlocking the discussion before it is due, not placing the due date inside the range of availability dates, or assigning a date that is outside the course or term dates.

Correct the date and then update the discussion again.

Notes:

  • If the course does not include specified course start and end dates, Canvas validates the discussion against the term date set for the course.
  • If your course is not using Multiple Grading Periods, the Assign field validates the due date against the closed grading period and requires the discussion date to be past the date of the closed grading period.

View Discussion Due Date

View Discussion Due Date

View the due date assigned to the discussion in the classic Discussions interface [1] or the Discussions Redesign interface [2].

View Discussions Page

View Discussions Page

On the Discussions Index Page, the discussion shows the dates assigned to the discussion.