Can you set up anonymous discussion posting?

[mkiser]

Can you set up anonymous discussion posting?

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Good evening,  @mkiser  Welcome to the Canvas Community.  Thank you for posting your question.  I searched the Community, and I don't believe this is possible.  I am basing this on a Feature Idea that I found called https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/1117-anonymous-discussion-forums" modifiedtitle="true" title="....  You'll notice that this Feature Idea is currently on Instructure's "Product Radar" stage...which means they are aware of the need, but they might not be able to get something developed in the near future.  If you feel that the Feature Idea I've linked to is similar to what you are wanting to see in Canvas, I would encourage you to vote on that idea and even consider adding a comment to the bottom of that thread as to why it is important to you.  The folks at Instructure do read your comments, so it would be helpful to them if you wanted to post a comment there.  I know the above information may not directly answer your question, but I hope it helps somewhat.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Good evening,  @mkiser  Welcome to the Canvas Community.  Thank you for posting your question.  I searched the Community, and I don't believe this is possible.  I am basing this on a Feature Idea that I found called https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/1117-anonymous-discussion-forums" modifiedtitle="true" title="....  You'll notice that this Feature Idea is currently on Instructure's "Product Radar" stage...which means they are aware of the need, but they might not be able to get something developed in the near future.  If you feel that the Feature Idea I've linked to is similar to what you are wanting to see in Canvas, I would encourage you to vote on that idea and even consider adding a comment to the bottom of that thread as to why it is important to you.  The folks at Instructure do read your comments, so it would be helpful to them if you wanted to post a comment there.  I know the above information may not directly answer your question, but I hope it helps somewhat.

[cstephen4]

Other LMSs have this feature of anonymous posting and it is important for Question & Answer Forums where students won't post because they think others will judge their question as stupid.

[kmeeusen]

Hi cstephen4

I can only recommend that you support the feature idea that  @Chris_Hofer  referenced.

Kelley

[JasonJames]

I also agree that it would be very useful to be able to allow anonymous posting in specific discussions in case one is seeking honest feedback from students or wishing to solicit honest questions that might otherwise not be posted due to embarrassment.  

[Stef_retired]

Thanks to everyone participating in this thread. We're currently in the design phase of  Anonymous Discussion Forums so please follow that conversation for updates.

[MoK]

It's 2023.  We just switched to Canvas from Blackboard, and I do not see anonymous discussion posts enabled.  I could always do this on Blackboard, and it made a HUGE difference in response rates from my students if they could be anonymous.  PLEASE ENABLE THIS FEATURE!   The one posts says this has been deployed, but it's not there.  

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

@MoK ...

Stefanie has retired, so you won't be hearing from her any longer in the Canvas Community.

I'd encourage you to speak with Hofstra University's Online Learning / eLearning / Distance Learning team about this.  The anonymous discussions are part of the Discussions Redesign ... which may not yet be enabled at Hofstra.  (Your Canvas team would know for sure.)  There is a Guide available here in the Community that describes how anonymous discussions work:

How do I allow students to create anonymous course discussions?

This is the Guide on how to turn the Discussions Redesign on in your course...if it's available to you:

How do I use Discussions Redesign as an instructor?

Essentially, at an admin level, there are four "states" that the feature can be turned on in courses:

• off by default for everyone at your school
• on by default for everyone at the course level with the option to turn it off per course
• off by default for everyone at the course level with the option to turn it on per course
• on by default for everyone at your school

Again, have some conversations at your school about the possibility of turning on the "Discussions/Announcements Redesign" Feature Option at the Canvas account level.  They may already have plans in place to do this.

Good luck to you!