Desire2Learn 9.0

Working with Discussions

In the Discussion area, class members can write and respond to messages within the class; they can ask a question of the entire class and view all of the class responses. Instructors may post topics in which a class response is requested.

Accessing the Discussion Area
Reading a Message
Replying to a Message
Adding a New Message
Attaching a File to a Message

Accessing the Discussion Area

In the Discussion area, related topics are grouped by forums. Within each topic, messages can be read and posted.

From the My Home page, in the My Eau Claire Courses widget, select the desired course
The Course Home page appears.
On the Navigation bar, click DISCUSSIONS
The Forums & Topics List pane appears.

Reading a Message

When viewing messages in the Discussion area, you are presented with several options through the View pull-down menu and toolbar icons. For more information about these options, refer to Discussion Viewing Options.

Access the Discussion area
From the Forums & Topics List, click the topic you wish to view
The Discussion Topic pane appears with all messages posted within that topic shown.
Click the subject of the message you wish to view
The message appears in the Preview Pane at the bottom of the page.
NOTE: Messages only appear in the Preview Pane if this option is selected from the Display Options.

Replying to a Message

When you see a message you would like to respond to, you can use the Reply feature. Reply differs from Add Message in that the message you are sending becomes part of the thread established by the original message.

Access the Discussion area
From the Forums & Topics List, click the topic you wish to view
The Discussion Topic pane appears with all messages posted within that topic shown.
Click the subject of the message you wish to reply to
The message appears in the Preview Pane.
NOTE: Messages only appear in the Preview Pane if this option is selected from the Display Options.
In the Preview Pane, click REPLY
The message is replaced with a reply form.
OPTIONAL: In the Subject text box, type a new subject
NOTE: The default subject is the same as the subject of the message that you are replying to, prefaced with "Re:"
In the scroll box, type your message
When finished, click POST
Your reply is posted as part of the thread.

Adding a New Message

When you add a new message by clicking ADD MESSAGE, you begin a new thread in the discussion instead of replying to a message already posted.

Access the Discussion area
From the Forum & Topics List, click the topic you wish to view
The Discussion Topic pane appears with all messages posted within that topic shown.
From the Discussion toolbar, click COMPOSE
The Compose dialog box appears.
In the Subject text box, type the desired subject for your message
In the Message text box, type your message
Click TOGGLE SPELL CHECK
Misspelled words will appear in red.
To preview your message as it will appear,
1. Click PREVIEW
  The Preview window appears with your message displayed.
2. Click CLOSE
If you are satisfied with your message, click POST
Your message is posted and starts a new thread in the discussion.

Attaching a File to a Message

Access the Discussion area
From the Forums & Topics List, click the topic you wish to view
The Discussion Topic pane appears with all messages posted within that topic shown.
Reply to or add a new message
If necessary, in the Subject text box, type the desired subject for your message
In the Message text box, type your message
In the Attachments section
1. Click ADD A FILE
  The Submit a File dialog box appears.
2. Select an area (My Computer, My Locker, or Group Locker)
  Click BROWSE...
3. Using the Look in pull-down menu, navigate to and select the desired file
4. Click OPEN
  The file appears in the Attach File text box.
5. Click UPLOAD
When finished composing your message, click POST