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Why doesn't Canvas have a word count on Discussions? It would help ensure student success and show them and instructors whether they have met the requirements of the assignment.
You can easily reply to any discussion. However, the reply option may vary depending upon how your instructor set up the discussion. Discussion replies can be edited or deleted, as long as your instructor has not restricted this setting in your course.
Before submitting a reply for a graded discussion, you may want to review all discussion information, such as the graded discussion rubric, if any.
Notes:
- The discussion reply Rich Content Editor includes a word count display below the bottom right corner of the text box.
- If you are unable view responses from other students, you may be required to make a reply before you can view them. Once you reply to the discussion, any other replies will be visible.
- If the discussion is an anonymous discussion, student names and profile pictures do not display. Posts created by the instructor display the instructor's name and profile picture.
Open Discussions
In Course Navigation, click the Discussions link.
Open Discussion
Click the title of the discussion.
Reply to Discussion
To reply to the main discussion, click the Reply button.
Post Reply
Add your reply, links, files, and other media in the Rich Content Editor [1].
To post your reply, click the Reply button [2].
Note: If you post your discussion response before an attached image finishes uploading, Canvas displays a warning message.
View Your Reply
Your reply automatically displays at the top of the discussion reply thread.
Thread a Discussion Reply
To respond to a discussion reply, click the Reply link.
Post Reply
In the discussion thread replies sidebar, add your reply, links, files, and other media in the Rich Content Editor [1].
To post your reply, click the Reply button [2].
View Reply
Your reply displays at the bottom of the discussion thread.
hello the discussions tab is not showing under my course what do I need to do
If enabled by your institution, you can use Discussions Redesign to create a discussion for your course. This lesson outlines a variety of options to choose from in order to customize a discussion for your course.
Discussions Redesign is currently a beta feature. Some discussion settings and features in the classic Discussions interface may not function or be available in Discussions Redesign.
Notes:
- If Discussions Redesign is not available in your course, it has not been enabled by your institution.
- Discussions can be graded or ungraded. If a student attaches a file to an ungraded discussion, the file size counts toward the student's storage quotas. However, attachments added to graded discussions do not count toward the student's storage quotas.
Open Discussions
In Course Navigation, click the Discussions link.
Create Discussion
Add a title for your discussion in the Topic Title field [1].
To add discussion content, use the Rich Content Editor [2]. The Rich Content Editor includes a word count display below the bottom right corner of the text box [3].
If you want to create a section-specific discussion that is not graded, click the Post to drop-down menu [4]. You can select one or multiple sections. To create a graded section-specific discussion, use the discussion options.
Note: When a document is uploaded to the Rich Content Editor from a discussion, the file is saved to the Uploaded Media folder in Course Files and defaults to hidden status. Students can view the file when the discussion is made available to them. Learn more about file visibility.
Add Attachment
To add an attachment to your discussion, click the Choose File button [1].
If required by your institution, you will need to select usage right settings for your attachment. To manage usage right settings, click the Set usage rights icon [2].
In the Usage Right drop-down menu [3], select one of five usage rights. If you are an instructor and are not sure which usage right applies to your file, please consult your institutional admin for guidance:
- I hold the copyright (original content created by you)
- I have obtained permission to use the file (authorized permission by the author)
- The material is in the public domain (explicitly assigned to public domain, cannot be copyrighted, or is no longer protected by copyright)
- The material is subject to an exception - e.g. fair use, the right to quote, or others under applicable copyright laws (excerpt or summary used for commentary, news reporting, research, or analysis in education)
- The material is licensed under Creative Commons; this option also requires setting a specific Creative Commons license
If known, enter the copyright holder information in the Copyright Holder field [4].
To save your usage right settings, click the Save button [5]. You can edit usage right settings by clicking the Set usage rights icon.
Add Discussion Options
By default, student names and profile pictures display in discussions [1]. To allow students to decide to display their names and profile pictures, click the Partial: students can choose to reveal their name and profile picture option [2]. To enable anonymous discussions and hide student names and profile pictures, click the Full: student names and profile pictures will be hidden option [3].
To require users to reply to the discussion before they can see any other replies, click the Users must post before seeing replies checkbox [4].
To enable a discussion podcast feed, click the Enable podcast feed checkbox [5].
To allow students to like discussion replies, click the Allow liking checkbox [6].
To add an ungraded discussion to the student to-do list, click the Add to student to-do checkbox [7]. Student to-do items display in the course calendar, in the student-specific List View Dashboard, and in the global and course home page to-do lists. Graded discussions automatically display in a student's to-do list.
To make the discussion a group discussion, click the This is a Group Discussion checkbox [8].
To make your discussion available on a specific date or during a specific date range using availability dates, enter the dates in the Available From and Until fields [9], or click the calendar icons to select dates. If you create a graded discussion, the Available From and Until dates can be set in the Assign field. Before the Available From date, students will only be able to view the discussion title. After the Until date, students can view the discussion topic and all responses but cannot add or edit any responses.
Note: Anonymous discussions do not support graded discussions or group discussions.
Create Graded Discussion
To create a graded discussion, click the Graded checkbox. If this option is selected, additional options will be added to the page, where you can assign graded discussions to everyone, individual students, course sections, or course groups.
Note: If you want to create a graded discussion and you have added sections in the Post To field, the Graded option will be unavailable. You must remove the sections from the Post To field before selecting this option. You will be able to add sections as part of the graded discussion options.
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].
When your discussion is saved in a draft state, you can return to the page and publish it at any time by clicking the Publish button in the classic Discussions interface [1] or the Publish icon in the Discussions Redesign interface [2].
You can view threaded replies in a sidebar and quoted replies in Discussions Redesign.
Notes:
- This lesson shows how to view discussion thread replies using Discussions Redesign. If your discussions don't look the same as what's shown in this lesson, please view how to view threaded replies in the classic Discussions interface.
- If the anonymous discussion option is enabled for the discussion, student names and profile pictures do not display. However, as an instructor, your name and profile picture is visible to all course members.
Open Discussions
In Course Navigation, click the Discussions link.
View Inline Discussion Thread Replies
When viewing inline discussion thread replies, you can collapse and expand the discussion threads by clicking the Expand Threads and Collapse Threads buttons. When a discussion thread reply is collapsed, you can view the reply indicators showing the number of unread and total replies.
To expand the discussion thread replies inline, click the # of replies link [1].
View the read and unread replies [2].
To view threaded replies options, click the Options icon [3]. You can mark replies as read/unread, mark threaded replies as read/unread, return to the topic, edit the reply, delete the reply, open the reply in SpeedGrader, or report the reply.
View Split Screen Discussion Thread Replies
To view threaded replies in a split screen sidebar, click the View Split Screen button [1].
When viewing split screen discussion thread replies, you can collapse and expand the discussion thread replies sidebar. When a discussion thread reply is collapsed, you can view the reply indicators showing the number of unread and total replies.
To expand the discussion thread replies sidebar, click the # of replies link [2].
View the read and unread replies [3].
To view threaded replies options, click the Options icon [4]. You can mark replies as read/unread, mark threaded replies as read/unread, return to the topic, edit the reply, delete the reply, open the reply in SpeedGrader, or report the reply.
To collapse the discussion thread replies sidebar, click the Close icon [5].
Quote Discussion Replies
When viewing discussion thread replies, you can quote a threaded reply.
To quote a discussion thread reply, click the Options icon [1] and then click the Quote Reply link [2].
View Quoted Discussion Reply Options
To include or exclude the quoted reply in your message, click the Include quoted reply in message toggle button [1].
Add your reply, links, files, and other media in the Rich Content Editor [2].
Click the Reply button [3].
If your instructor has created a group in your course, you can start discussions within the group.
Open Discussions
In Group Navigation, click the Discussions link.
Add Discussion
Click the Add Discussion button.
Create Discussion
Enter a discussion title in the Topic Title field [1].
Add discussion content using the Rich Content Editor [2].
Set Discussion Options
Select options for your discussion, allowing others to like it [1] and adding it to other group members to-do lists [2].
Save Discussion
Click the Save button to start the discussion.
View Discussion
View the discussion you started in your group.
This behavior has been resolved and deployed to the production environment as of 2/28/24.
Description
When replying to a discussion reply 4 or more levels deep using Discussions/Announcements Redesign, it automatically @ mentions the user you are replying to, however, the user id autopopulated is user 1, and when you post the reply, it sends a notification to user 1 on the instance.
Expected Behavior
The correct user ID should be populated with the notification going to the correct user.
Workaround
No workaround exists at this time.
Steps to Reproduce
-
Prerequisite: User with a canvas ID of 1, a published course with 2 users, and Discussions/Announcements Redesign enabled.
-
Create a published discussion in the course with threaded replies enabled.
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As user A, post a reply, then as user B reply to user A. Go back and forth until you are at least 4 threaded replies deep.
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Notice that on the 4th level deep, it automatically @ mentions the previous user, and if you check the HTML, it shows: data-mention="1", where the 1 is the user ID that will receive the mention notification.
Additional Info
VICE-3930
Known issues indicate notable behaviors that has been escalated to the Canvas engineering team. Known issues are not a guarantee for an immediate resolution. This document is for informational purposes only and does not replace the Support process. If you are encountering the behavior outlined in this document, please ensure you have submitted a Support case (per your institution's escalation process) so Canvas Support can adequately gauge the overall customer impact and prioritize appropriately.
- Tags:
- 2024-02-28
- VICE-3930
You can embed an image file directly into discussion replies using the image icon. Images can be embedded from the web, or your Canvas user files. If a change is made to the source of your image after you have embedded it in a discussion reply, the image added to your discussion reply will not be changed.
Notes:
- Before you can embed an image from Canvas, the image must first be uploaded to your user files.
- You can also attach a file to a discussion reply.
- If you post your discussion response before an attached image finishes uploading, Canvas will display a warning message.
Open Discussions
In Course Navigation, click the Discussions link.
Write Reply
Create a new discussion entry by clicking the Reply text field.
Add Image from Toolbar
To add an image from the toolbar, click the Image icon [1].
You can also upload an image from the image options menu. To view additional image options, click the Image Options arrow [2]. Then select the Upload Image option [3].
Note: To view the Image icon, you may have to click the Options icon [4].
Add Image from Menubar
You can also add an image using the menubar in the Rich Content Editor. The menubar displays the title of Rich Content Editor tools and may be preferable for those using keyboard navigation.
To upload an image using the menubar, click the Insert menu [1], select the Image option [2]. You can upload new images and embed images from your user files [3].
Upload Image from Computer
By default, the Image Upload Tool displays the Computer tab [1]. Click or drag and drop an image file to the image uploader to upload a file from your computer [2].
Note: Images uploaded from your computer using the image upload tool are added to your user files.
Select File
Select the image file [1] and click the Open button [2].
Embed Image from URL
To embed an image using a URL, click the URL tab [1].
Enter the URL in the File URL field [2].
Manage Usage Rights
If required by your institution, you will need to select usage right settings for your image.
In the Usage Right drop-down menu [1], select one of the five usage right options:
- I hold the copyright: original content created by you
- I have obtained permission to use the file: authorized permission by the author
- The material is in the public domain: explicitly assigned to public domain, cannot be copyrighted, or is no longer protected by copyright
- The material is subject to an exception - e.g. fair use, the right to quote, or others under applicable copyright laws: excerpt or summary used for commentary, news reporting, research, or analysis in education
- The material is licensed under Creative Commons: this option also requires setting a specific Creative Commons license
If known, enter the copyright holder information in the Copyright Holder field [2].
Note: If you are an instructor and are not sure which usage right applies to your image, please consult your institutional admin for guidance.
Manage Image Attributes
To add Alt Text to your image, type an alternative text description or text tags in the Alt Text field [1]. By default, the Alt Text field displays the image file name. Alt text is read by screen readers, and it displays when an embedded image cannot display.
If the image is decorative and does not require alt text, select the Decorative Image option [2].
By default, the Embed Image display option is selected for embedded images [3].
To display the image file link, select the Display Text Link display option [4]. The file link will replace the image in the Rich Content Editor.
Embed Image
To embed your selected image, click the Submit button.
Note: The image will flash before it embeds in the Rich Content Editor.
View Embedded Image
View your uploaded image in the Rich Content Editor. You can also add or modify alt text tags and manage the image display options.
Post Reply
Click the Post Reply button.
View Discussion Reply
View your discussion reply.
How to add a reply option for students?
- Labels:
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Canvas
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Instructor
Hello,
Is it possible to reorder posts in a Canvas discussion?
I have an ongoing discussion that has several posts, and it would be so helpful to see the most recent posts on top. I noticed Microsoft Teams just added this feature, and it would be great if Canvas also had this option.
Any ideas on perhaps a work around? I have 220 some replies and scrolling to find the new ones can be a bit tedious.
Thanks!