Update: The self service button is now available in Beta environment
In a previous post, we explained the 'Disallow Threaded Replies' option was inadvertently applied to discussions that were intended to remain threaded. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the update, we are unable to identify which specific discussions were affected.
Contrary to the popular belief that discussions are intended to be threaded, our analysis of historical data shows that approximately one-third of discussions are not threaded.
Since we couldn't determine whether discussions in each course were intended to be threaded, and given the large volume of unthreaded discussions, it wasn’t feasible to update all of them. To reduce the burden on instructors and streamline the correction process, we're introducing a temporary self-service option that gives instructors control over their courses.
A new button will be available on the Discussions Index page, allowing users to bulk-enable threaded replies in all discussions in a course by unchecking the 'Disallow Threaded Replies' option. Please be aware that this action will apply to all discussions in the course, not just those affected by the error, and the change is irreversible.
This temporary option will be activated on Monday, September 16, 2024, and will remain available until the end of October. Given the issue's urgency and the solution's simplicity, we have decided to release this update ahead of our usual schedule to provide instructors with a timely fix. We have thoroughly tested the functionality to ensure that it works as intended without introducing any unintended side effects.
The self-service button will only be visible in courses that still contain at least one discussion affected by the issue. If your discussions have already been manually updated, modified via API, or resolved through support, you will not see the button. Once the button is used and the update process is successfully completed, the notification will no longer appear in that course.
If you dismiss the alert but later decide to proceed with the update, you can either clear your browser cache or access Canvas from a different browser or device. You can see the overall flow of the process in the below video:
Additionally, if your course content is derived from course copies or synced via Blueprint courses, please ensure you run the update in the original course first. Otherwise, the synced or copied discussions will retain the incorrect setting after each sync or copy.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused and appreciate your understanding as we work together to address the issue.
