Is there a way to set discussions to expand threads by default, and to be ordered "oldest first" by default?

[ElizabethCShaw]

Spoiler

The redesigned discussions are causing all sorts of unhappiness. We want them to default to expanded threads and an "oldest first" sort. Is there a setting to make this happen?

[clawrence6]

I second the part about expanding threads by default - I've had several faculty already requesting this, and we're less than a week into the term. I'll also add that the threaded replies need either a more significant indentation to them or some type of background color difference (light grey, like in Excel's tables).

[rlbrown21]

Please let us choose the defaults per course.   Having posts hidden by default does not work for the majority of our faculty

[susan_o_shapiro]

I have the same problem!  I want to be able to have the discussion default to expanded threads.  My TAs and I work hard to reply to as many student comments as possible, and we want ALL of the students to see ALL of our replies.  That is the main point of a discussion board!  If the students have to click in order to see our replies, it's not really a discussion.  PLEASE change it back!

[TamasBalogh]

Hi @susan_o_shapiro, you can read about this in the Discussions end of quarter - Q3 post. Saving user preferences  for sorting and expand/collapse threads is already implemented and we are currently working on enabling set default to these too by the instructors.

[cmuir]

User preferences were working for a while, but recently (since the last update maybe? about then, anyway) have stopped "sticking". It once again reverts back to newest first, discussions collapsed on each return to a particular discussion.  I had assumed Canvas changed it's mind again on how this aspect of Discussions is supposed to work, but sounds like the change wasn't intentional?

[TamasBalogh]

Hi @cmuir, no it is not intentional for sure. We found an issue with some server side changes which might be the reason for this behavior and currently working on a fix. 

We are committed to pursue the way for users to save their preferences and also educators can set the default values. This is already released to beta and will come to production soon.

[dsemb]

Does not consistently work. Was also in Q4 post not Q3. Please update this so default for discussions can be set to the instructors preference. 

[TamasBalogh]

Hi @dsemb, it was released in Q3 and I posted it in the Q3 end of quarter blog post.

As it was stated in that blog post, saving the user preferences is the first step and enabling educators to set the default view (and lock them if they want) will be the next, which is already released to beta and will be available in production in March.

[jbielecki]

I completely agree! That's the point of a discussion online just as in a brick-and-mortar classroom: to have everyone involved!

[chriscas · Accepted solution]

Just to make sure this thread has the most accurate information, these options were added in the March 15, 2025 Canvas release, details at Canvas Release Notes (2025-03-15) - Instructure Community - 634458.

-Chris