Desire2Learn 9.0

Discussions: Using the Search Feature

The Search feature allows the instructor to search all forums and topics in the course for messages pertaining to specific terms. Using the Search feature and other features, you can see how many students wrote about a specific subject, find a message that contains a certain phrase, or see all the messages in a topic grouped by author.

Sorting Messages
Searching Messages

Sorting Messages

At the end of a discussion unit, you may want to check how many posts each student made. By sorting the messages, you can group all the messages in a Discussions topic by author (or by subject or date).

From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click DISCUSSIONS
The Forums & Topics List pane appears.
Click the desired topic
The Discussion Topic pane appears.
From the View pull-down menu, under Unthreaded, select All Messages
Click APPLY
The Discussion Topic pane refreshes.
Click AUTHORED BY
Messages will appear in alphabetical order by author's first name.

NOTE: To sort messages by date or subject, click on DATE or SUBJECT
To return to threaded view when finished, from the View pull-down menu, select Threaded
Click APPLY

Searching Messages

If you want to find a particular message, especially if you remember part of the title or message itself, the Search feature can be useful.

From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click DISCUSSIONS
The Forums & Topics List pane appears.
Click the desired topic
The Discussion Topic pane appears.
Click Show Search
In the Search For text box, type the appropriate search word(s)
OPTIONAL: For additional options, click SHOW SEARCH OPTIONS
NOTE: Any changes made to the search options will remain until you exit the discussion. To reset the default search options, click CLEAR SEARCH.
OPTIONAL: To specify a date parameter for the search,
1. Select Start Date
2. Use the pull-down menus to specify the appropriate time constraints
3. Select End Date
4. Use the pull-down menus to specify the appropriate time constraints
Click SEARCH
The Search results are displayed.
To read a message from the results list, click the subject
The message appears in a new window.
To see all messages for the topic and restore the default search options, click CLEAR SEARCH
To return to the Discussion page, click BACK TO FORUMS & TOPICS LIST