Discussions Tool

The discussions tool enables instructors, students and teaching assistants to engage in asynchronous online discussions. Discussions are divided into different topic areas and allow instructors to create discussion forums around particular subjects. Topics can be public (accessible to all in the course) or private (available to instructor-defined groups of instructor, students and TA user accounts).

I. Overview	II. Managing Topics	III. Managing Messages
A. Add Discussions Tool	A. Create a topic	A. Compose a new message
B. Discussion Tool Defaults	B. Rename a topic	B. HTML and Equation Editors
	C. Move a topic
	D. Delete a topic
	E. Private, anonymous, locked, search
	F. Topic settings

I. Overview

Add the Discussions tool to your course

(If it is not already there...)

See how to add a page or tool to your MSU WebCT course by going here: "Add Page or Tool"

When adding the discussion tool select "Discussions" from the "Communications Tools" area (as below)
Note: A wizard is available for the Discussion tool.

Note: In the image above, the wizard shows as enabled. It is not necessary to use the wizard when adding the discussions tool but users who are new to WebCT may choose to use the Discussions Wizard. The wizard guides you, step-by-step, through creating a topic; posting a message; and posting a message to an existing topic. See more about wizards by going to the "Add page or tool" MSU WebCT tutorial.

Discussions Tool Defaults

After adding the discussions tool, access the discussions area by selecting the discussions hotlink (example below)

By default, a newly created Discussions tool contains three public topics:

Main: the "Main" topic area-- a default discussion area. Can be renamed, made private, made anonymous and locked; can't be deleted.
Notes: contains messages related to a page of content in a Content Module. Can be renamed, made private, made anonymous and locked; can't be deleted.
All: contains all messages from all public topics (can't be renamed, deleted, made private, made anonymous or locked)

A) Create a topic.

Select the "Create Topic" hotlink button under "Options"

Type in the name of the topic and select the "Create" hotlink button

The newly created topic appears (as below)

B) Rename a topic

Select the topic you wish to rename, type in the new name and select the Go hotlink button

The topic appears renamed (as below)

Note: You cannot rename a topic that is associated with a presentation group.

C) Move a topic

Select the checkbox corresponding to the topic you which to move, select "Move Up" or "Move Down" from the "Organize" area (adjust the dropbox selector accordingly) and select the Go hotlink button

The topic moves (as below)

D) Delete a topic/delete messages from a topic

Select the checkbox corresponding to the topic you want to delete, select the "Delete topic" hotlink button.

A warning sign appears. Select "OK" or "Cancel".

Selecting "OK" yields Gone!

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Delete messages from a topic

Select the checkbox corresponding to the topic you want to delete the messages out of and then select the "Delete messages" hotlink button.

Note: In the example below, 13 messages have been generated and show up as being in the topic "Intro". Note also that the 13 messages appear simultaneously in the "All" topic area.

A warning sign appears. Select "OK" or "Cancel".

Selecting "OK" deletes the messages out of the topic (and the "All" topic) but leaves the topic in place.

E) Private, anonymous, locked, and search

Private Topic areas

To create a private topic, first add the topic, then assign the topic "private" status, and then assign members to the private topic. Note: Only assigned members can view and post messages to a private topic.

In the example below, three topics have been added to the discussion area and have been selected to become private topics after which the "Update" hotlink button is selected to update the status.

After creating private topic(s), the "Manage members" hotlink button appears (on the right under "Options", between the "Rename topic:" and "Delete topic" areas) and the "Success:" topic status message is displayed. To add members from the class roster, select the topic (in this case "Robot Group") and select the "Manage members" hotlink button.

The "Manage members" page appears with an indication of the "Private Topic:" that is being worked on. Click on the "Select members" hotlink button to assign members to that private topic area.

The class roster is displayed. Select the student(s) that will belong to the private topic and then select the "Update" hotlink button.

Note: If the instructor does not include him/herself in the private topic, he/she will not be able to easily access the topic area. (More Details)

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Anonymous

You can set the default for composing messages in topics with an anonymous status. Anonymous status allows the participant to post messages without his/her name being shown as the author.

Example: An "Anonymous Topic" has been created. The "Anonymous" status has not been activated yet.

Note: Any topic, except for "All", can utilize anonymous status. For the purposes of this tutorial, MSU WebCT has chosen to create a special topic area to illustrate the procedure. Also, it is not necessary to enter into a topic area to post messages to the topic but this seems like a logical way to explain the feature.

Enter the "Anonymous Topic" area by selecting the apropriate hotlink...

Select "Compose message"...

When the separate "Compose Discussion Message" window appears (as below), note that there is nowhere to choose to post anonymously.

Return to the main Discussions area, select the "Anonymous" checkbox corresponding to the topic (in this case, "Anonymous Topic") and then select the "Update" hotlink button.

The "Success:" topic status message is displayed (as below)...

Go into the topic area by selecting the topic hotlink.

Select "Compose message"...

Note the pre-selected "Post anonymously" checkbox. If the author of the message does not wish to post anonymously, he/she must de-select the checkbox before posting the message.

After the message is posted the message is able to be viewed (a pop-up window appears), the author is listed as "Anonymous" (as below). Participants select "Close" after reading the message.

Note: Once an "Anonymous" topic has been created, the checkbox for "Anonymous Posting" will appear throughout the rest of the topics when "Compose message" is selected. However, in topics that are not designated with a status of "anonymous", the "Anonymous Posting" checkbox is NOT pre-selected (though it still appears), and if someone does select to post anonymously they will not be able to do it.

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Locked and unlocked topic areas

Instructors can lock or unlock topics. When a topic is locked, no more activity is permitted in the topic (such as replying to a message that has been read or posting a new message into the topic).

To lock a topic area, go to "Discussions", select the topic to be locked, select the "Locked" checkbox and then select the "Update" hotlink button. In this example, the "Intro" topic is to be locked.

The green "Success" statement indicates that the topic status has been updated. The topic is now locked as indicated by the checkmark in the "Locked" column corresponding with the "Intro" topic (as below).

When selecting the hotlink associated with the locked topic...

...upon entering the topic area, the status is displayed as "locked". When selecting the "Compose Message" hotlink button...

...a pop-up dialogue box appears stating "This topic has been locked." The dialogue box gives no choice but to select "OK".

When selecting "OK" the dialogue box disappears and a "Compose Discussion Message" window comes up that defaults you to the next available topic that does not have a "locked" status (in this case, the "Anonymous Topic"). Note that the "Intro" topic does not appear in the list of available topics to post to when selecting the drop-down list..

Even though a topic has been locked, messages within the topic are still able to be read...

...but after selecting a topic to be read and selecting the "Reply" hotlinked button...

...once again, the "This topic has been locked" dialogue box appears (as below) and no reply is allowed.

Reasons to lock discussion topic areas:

• The topic is being used as a "Read Only" area for direction giving and so forth so the instructor does not want the topic to be cluttered up by replies and original posts.
  • To post to a locked topic area, the designer can unlock the topic area, post a composed message to the topic, and then lock the topic again.
• The end of a period of time for a discussion area has come.
  • Moving students along to a new topic though they wish to linger in an old topic area.
• For archival purposes: The topic has run it's course but the posts in the topic are still worthwhile and are left available for the class.

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Search discussions

When in the discussions area, select the "Search" hotlink button.

The Search Topics screen appears in a new browser window.

Select your search parameters:

From the Search drop-down list, select to search All messages or only Unread messages.
From the Topic drop-down list, select the topic to search.

From the Criteria drop-down list, select the appropriate filter(s):

• Criteria Filter Descriptions:
  • None- No filter
  • First name- First name of the message author
  • Last name- Last name of the message author
  • UserID- User name of the message author
  • Subject- The thread subject
  • Message No.- The unique message number assigned to each message
  • Date- The date that the message was sent
  • Message- Any of the words in the text of a message

From the Comparison drop-down list, select how the information entered in the Value text box will be compared with the search Criteria.

• Comparison Term Descriptions:
  • Contains- Retrieves messages containing the letters or numbers entered in the Value text box.
  • After- In combination with the Date or Number filter, retrieves all messages after the date or number entered in the Value text box. In combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message), retrieves all messages containing letters that occur alphabetically after the word entered in the Value text box.
  • Before- In combination with the Date or Number filter, retrieves all messages before the date or number entered in the Value text box. In combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message) retrieves all messages containing letters that occur alphabetically before the word entered in the Value text box.
  • Equals- Retrieves messages that match exactly the letters or numbers entered in the Value text box.
  • Starts with- In combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message) retrieves messages with words that begin with the letter entered in the Value text box.
  • Ends with- In combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message) retrieves words that end with the letter entered in the Value text box.

   

In the Value text box, enter the words or numbers you want to search. If you have selected the Date filter, enter the date in the format mm,dd,yyyy. Include the commas.

Click Search, and then click Close. The Discussion Messages screen will appear and list all messages that satisfy your search requirements.
Note: After you have searched your messages, you may compile and download them

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F) Topic settings

The "Topic Settings" area is where certain settings can be adjusted that apply to views in topic areas.

Access the "Topic Settings" area by selecting the "Topic Settings" hotlink button.

There are three areas that settings can be changed for:

• Threads per page
• Length of subject
• Anonymous topics

If you wish to exit the area select the "Back" hotlink button or use the breadcrumbs.

Threads per page:

• To specify a set number of threads per page, select the radio button associated with "Display (text box) threads per page", and enter a number in the text box.
• To display all the threads in a topic, select "Display all threads at once".

In the example below, the user has elected to view 5 threads per page.

Select the "Update" hotlink button for changes to take hold.

Length of subject:

• To specify a limit to the number of characters displayed, select "Display first (text box) characters of subject", and enter a number in the text box.
• To display the full subject, regardless of its length, select "Display entire subject".

In the example below, the user will allow the entire subject line to be displayed- watch out for long subjects!

Select the "Update" hotlink button for changes to take hold.

Anonymous topics:

You can set the default for composing messages in topics with an anonymous status.

• To compose messages anonymously by default, select the check box.
• To not apply a default, clear the check box.

In the example below, the user is de-selecting the "Compose messages anonymously by default" checkbox so that the students in the course will have to actively check the "Post anonymously" checkbox inside a "Compose Message" window in order to post a message anonymously.

Select the "Update" hotlink button for changes to take hold.

A.) Compose a new mail message

When in discussions, select "Compose message"...

A "composition" pop-up window appears.

Select the Topic you wish to send a message to via the Topic drop-down list.

Type in subject, type the message.

When selecting the "Preview" hotlinked button, another pop-up instance occurs...

Three windows are now open-- the Main course window, the composition window and the preview window. After previewing the message, close the preview window...

...make any necessary adjustments in the "Compose Discussion Message" area and "post" the message to the appropriate topic.

In this example, the message (Subject: Have you seen...) is then posted to the topic "Robot Group".

B.) HTML and Equation editors

HTML Editor: The edit-on Pro editor by RealObjects is a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) editor which allows you to create and publish content on the Web without having to know HTML.

Equation Editor: The WebEQ Equation Editor allows you and your students to create, view, and edit complex mathematical equations and include them in WebCT content.

Starting the HTML editor:

While in the composition window, select the "HTML editor" hotlink button...

An applet will begin to load. Initially, you'll see the java cup (or some other indicator that something is being looked for...)

*Note: If running Windows XP, after selecting the "HTML editor" hotlinked button, your machine may give you a "Java Security Warning" asking "Do you want to install and run signed applet distributed by "www.webct.com"? You'll be able to select "Grant this session" (allows applet to run for this session only); "Deny" (won't allow applet to run-html editor won't work); "Grant Always" (you'll never see the security warning again on that machine); and "View Certificate" (to more accurately judge authenticity).

Then the applet will load... the time it takes to finish will depend on connection and local machine speed.

Note: After the applet has loaded the first time in a session (session = being connected inside your MSU WebCT course), subsequent use of the HTML Editor throughout the course does not require the applet to load again. However, after exiting your MSU WebCT course, and then coming back into it, the applet will have to load again.

After the applet has finished loading, a standard toolbar appears with tools that behave in a similar fashion to many common word processing and HTML editor programs....

Hovering over the icons on the toolbar reveal their functions...

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Example of using the HTML editor:

Select words/phrases or areas of the message and apply formatting to them...

For instance...

...font color "Red" is selected...

...the selected word is then made "Bold"...

...then the selected word's font size is changed to "36"...

... three changes have been made.

WYSIWYG vs. HTML View:

...switch to HTML View...

Preview the message before posting and this is what it looks like...

To get from the HTML editor back into plain text, select the "Text box" hotlink button.

Once HTML has been written using the HTML editor, even though you go back to the text box default, the code stays...

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Starting the Equation editor:

The default setting for an MSU WebCT course is that the Equation editor is set to show the Equation editor interface throughout the course. If the instructor doesn't want the editor to appear, then it is necessary to go into the "Course Settings" area of the course and select "Hide equation editor..."

After choosing to "Hide" or "Show" (one or the other!) - Update!

To start the Equation editor, while in a "Compose Discussion Message" instance, select the "Equation editor" hotlinked button.

The editor will spawn a new window and take a bit of time to load - the time it takes to finish will depend on connection and local machine speed.

Selecting the icon ( ? ) will cause the Equation editor help window to pop up.

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