Discussions Tool Settings

The following discussion tool settings are available for instructors. The settings under Personal Settings will apply only to the user’s account. Those under Org Unit Settings will apply for all users in the course.

Access Discussions Tool Settings

  1. On the nav bar, click the Activities menu, then select Discussions.
    Discussions on the Nav Bar
  2. Click the Settings link.
    Discussions Settings
  3. Modify the settings below as needed, then click Save.

Personal Settings

Personal settings control the way you view posts inside a topic. These settings apply to all of your course offerings wherever you access discussions, but do not affect other users.

Display Settings
Discussions Settings Display Settings

  1. Optional: Check the box to Always show the Discussions List pane. Selecting this option will pin the Discussions List pane in the View Topic and View Thread pages. This makes moving around within discussions a bit easier.
    discussions list
  2. Optional: Display deleted posts: Selecting this option displays deleted posts when browsing topics. Note: Students are unable to delete their own posts. It is not recommended for posts to be deleted by instructors, so an archive remains of what was posted.

Default View
Discussions Settings Default View

 

Choose the preferred default view. Select either:

    • Grid View: Selecting this option will display the discussion posts in the traditional Grid View, with discussion post subjects displaying in a grid. Discussion posts will be listed on a single page. Users must click on an individual post to view the text of the message. Watch an overview of the Grid View for the Discussions tool. Grid view of discussions
      • Reading View (default): Selecting this option will display the discussion posts in Reading View, where the entire text of a post displays for all posts. Reading view automatically opens all posts, so you can follow the entire discussion on a single page.
        Discussions Reading View

Reply Settings
Discussions Settings Reply Settings

Optional: Include original post in reply: Selecting this option includes the original post by default when composing a reply. Having this option checked can make reading an entire discussion difficult (especially in Reading View).


Subscription Settings
Discussions Settings Subscription Settings

Optional: When creating a new thread, subscribe to the thread by default. For more information, see Subscribe to a Discussion.


Org Unit (Course) Settings

Default Rating Scheme

Your selection will automatically display in the Rate Posts drop-down list on the New Topic page and will automatically apply to imported course components. It is recommended that this option be set to “No Ratings”.

Choose between:

  • No Ratings (default)
  • Five Star Rating Scheme
  • Up Vote/Down Vote Rating Scheme
  • Up Vote Only Rating Scheme
Discussions Rating Scheme Options Settings

Availability Condition Defaults

Discussions Settings Availability Conditions

Select your Availability Condition Defaults for all Discussions in your course for what happens before start dates and after end dates.

Options include:

  • Visible with access restricted means students:
    • Can see the name, dates, other restrictions, topic stats, last post author
    • Cannot see the topic description
    • Cannot click the topic to access it or participate
    • Will see the topic count toward content progress
  • (Default)Visible with submission restricted means students:
    • Can see the names, dates, other restrictions, topic stats, last post author
    • Can the topic description
    • Cannot post (participate) in any topic
    • Will see the topic count toward content progress
  • Hidden means students:
    • Cannot see topics that are hidden before or after start/end dates
    • Hidden topics are not counted toward content progress

Grid View Settings

The options described below will only be applied when the Grid View is active for a user.

  • Topic Descriptions
    • (Optional) Topic descriptions display in the Message List:  Selecting this option will display Topic Descriptions in the Grid View for all users. Clearing this option can save space for users at lower resolutions in the Grid View. The Topic Description still displays on the Forums & Topics List.
      Discussions Settings Topic Descriptions
    • Default Threading Styles – Choose either:
      • Threaded:  In a threaded discussion, replies to posts are displayed as being indented below the original post.
      • Unthreaded:  An unthreaded view lists all posts at the same level, no indentations are applied. The default threading style used when accessing topics.
        Discussions Settings Default Threading Style

Display Settings
Discussions Settings Display Settings for Course

        • (Optional) Show the preview pane:  When checked, this option will include a pane towards the bottom of the screen that will display the active post. When unchecked, a pop-up window will open to display text. Selecting this option displays the lower Preview pane in the Grid View. If this option is not selected, clicking on a post in the Grid View will open the post in a pop-up window.
        • (Optional) Show the search bar:  When checked, this option will display a search field within a post. Selecting this option displays the Search fields in the Grid View.

Post Fields to Display
Discussions Settings Post Fields To Display

      • (Optional) Post ID:  The post ID is a chronological number applied to each post within D2L. We advise keeping this option unchecked. Selecting this option displays the Post ID for posts in the Grid View.
      • (Optional) Org Defined ID:  At TCU, an Org Defined ID is the user’s TCU ID number. Selecting this option displays the TCU ID number for the discussion post author in the Grid View.

Character Limits
Discussions Settings Character Limits

    • (Optional) Limit the number of characters of the subject to display in the post:  This limits the number of characters displayed in a discussion post title.

      If you check this box, the Subject Characters to Display field becomes available. Enter the number of characters of the Subject to display for each post when browsing topics. Must be an integer between 1 and 150.