Discussion Activity in a Course

Canvas provides an integrated system for class discussions, allowing both instructors and students to start and contribute to as many discussion topics as desired. Discussions allows for interactive communication between two or more people; users can participate in a conversation with an entire class or group.

Discussions can also be created as an assignment for grading purposes (and seamlessly integrated with the Canvas Gradebook), or simply serve as a forum for topical and current events. Discussions can also be created within student groups.

Discussion topics can be organized as focused or threaded discussions. Focused discussions only allow for two levels of nesting, the original post and subsequent replies. Threaded discussions allow for infinite levels of nesting. Focused discussions are relatively short-lived interactions, while threaded discussions allow replies within replies and may last for a longer period of time.

Discussions are flexible:

• Graded or ungraded: Choose to use discussions for ungraded conversations - such as a Q & A -  or for graded discussions.
• Customizable: Require students to submit their work before they see peer work, choose to allow students to edit/delete their posts.
  

Discussions features:

• Don't have to be text-based. Discussion replies are created in the Rich Content Editor, so your prompt and student responses do not have to be limited to only written work. Students can submit files, images, audio/video responses, and more!
  
• Don't miss a thing by subscribing to individual discussions and be notified if a new post is made.
• Add a rubric for clear student expectations and easy grading.