This document (last updated 2023-12-19) provides a summary of the Discussions/Announcements Redesign feature, which was originally introduced in the Canvas Release Notes (2021-06-19). For specific release updates within this document, please see the releases change log.
Discussion and announcement topics display an updated design with small usability enhancements. These changes ensure page responsiveness and prepare the interface for feature functionality improvements.
- Community Resources
- Feature Releases
- Customer Feedback
- Feature Documentation
- Feature/Integration Setup
- Feature Preview
- Active Development
- Permissions
- Mobile Support
- Release Schedule
- Course-Level Features
- Interface Modifications
- Feature Parity
- Additional Functionality
- Role Labels
- Flexible Viewing Options
- Mentions
- Quotes
- Reply Reporting
- Reported Reply Notifications (Teachers)
- Anonymous Discussions
Community Resources
Feature Releases
This document outlines up-to-date functionality for this feature. This document will continue to receive additional updates as indicated in the feature's release change log. Releases are subject to change.
Customer Feedback
Community feedback for the Discussions/Announcements Redesign project is welcome in the Discussions/Announcements Redesign User Group Forum.
Feature Documentation
New documentation for this feature is available in the Canvas Guides:
- Announcements Redesign
- Discussions Redesign
Comments are welcome for functionality clarification. Lessons will also be updated with all future enhancements as indicated in the change log.
Feature/Integration Setup
Feature Preview
The Discussions/Announcements Redesign project involves the Discussions/Announcements Redesign feature preview, which can be allowed on a course-by-course basis or turned on for all courses across the entire account. By default, this feature preview is set to Off. Canvas admins can manage this feature preview in Account Settings.
By default, this feature preview is set to Off and Unlocked, which means it is visible at the course level but is not turned on. Institutions who prefer that this preview not display at the course level should lock the feature preview at the account level in Account Settings.
Active Development
This feature enhances the Canvas experience within Discussions. When this preview is enabled in a course, early access to ongoing improvements will be displayed automatically with every release. Customers who choose to enable this feature in the production environment should subscribe to this document and the Discussions/Announcements Redesign User Group to stay current with upcoming features and their release dates.
This feature preview will be enforced for all users in production on July 20th, 2024. At that time the default discussion and announcement experience will be that of the redesign and users will no longer be able to use the legacy experience.
Permissions
Permissions for Discussions are outlined in the Account Permissions PDF and the Course Permissions PDF.
The Discussions/Announcements Redesign project currently uses the same permissions as classic Discussions and Announcements. Any changes to permissions and this project will be updated in this document.
Mobile Support
This feature is not yet available in the Canvas Mobile apps. Please see the Product Roadmap for upcoming updates when available.
Release Schedule
This feature will be available in both the beta environment as of 2021-06-07.
Production availability will be as of 2021-06-19.
Additional enhancements will continue to be made to this feature as announced in the change log.
An enforcement date of this feature will be based on planned feature development and user feedback. Additional details will be announced in Upcoming Canvas Changes when available.
Course-Level Features
Interface Modifications
For individual discussion and announcement topics, the 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
The following functionality has been included for parity with classic Announcements:
- Users must post before seeing replies
- Reply posts can be marked as read or unread
- Announcement time stamp edit display
- Announcement delay post alert (teachers/instructors)
Additional parity features will be added in future releases.
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.
Inline View
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.
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.
