Canvas: Create a Group Discussion

Create a Group Discussion

Canvas discussions allow for blog-like interaction amongst students and their instructors. A discussion can be for the whole class or can be assigned to small groups of students. A group discussion assignment creates an identical discussion topic in each group category. When students reply to the discussion topic they do so within their group environment. The process to create a group discussion is as follows.

Ungraded Group Discussions

  1. In your Canvas course, select Discussions from the course menu.
  2. Click on the +Discussion button to create a new discussion.
    Add discussion

  3. State the topic/title of your discussion.
  4. Use the text box to type a question or a description of what you expect from students on this particular discussion. You also have the option to upload a file [A] as part of your discussion description.
    Discussion topic

  1. To set up your discussion, check all the options that you want to apply.
  2. Check the box next to This is a Group Discussion and either select a group set or create a new one. Each group of students in that category will have its own conversation.
  3. If your discussion will be available all term, do not fill out the Available From/Until boxes. If you wish your discussion to be open for only a certain period of time, fill in the Available From/Until boxes. Note: if you have selected Graded in the Options [5], then you will have additional options to complete - see the Graded Discussions tab above.
  4. Click on Save or  Save & Publish if you are ready to share the discussion with your students.

Settings
 
UBC Okanagan Centre for Teaching and Learning Canvas Directory

Updated September 2020