Creating and editing discussion topics in Blackboard

Quick guide for Designers

The Discussions tool allows you to create topics relevant to the unit where users can post and reply to messages. Only users enrolled in that unit can post and reply to messages to the discussion.

Create a discussion topic
Add a link to an existing discussion topic or category
Edit a discussion topic
Remove a link to a discussion topic
Delete a discussion topic

Note: For instructions on creating discussion topics and categories, as well as moving, locking, selectively releasing them, etc. refer to the Managing discussions in Blackboard new window guide. For instructions on creating, editing and deleting messages, refer to the Participating in discussions in Blackboard new window guide.

Create a discussion topic

  1. Click on the Build tab.
  2. Go to the folder, learning module or Home Page where you wish to add the discussion topic.
  3. Click on the Add Content Link button at the top of the window.
  4. Click on Discussions .
  5. Click on Create Discussion Topic.
  6. Select the type of discussion topic you would like to create (Threaded, Blog or Journal) by clicking on the circle next to its title.

Note: This option will only be available if the Blog and Journal features have been enabled. To enable these, click on Manage Course in the Designer Tools menu and select Settings, then click on Discussions in the Tools list. Click on the circle next to true for Enable Blog and Journal type topic creation and then click on Save Values.

  1. Click on the Next button.
  2. Type in a Title and Description.
  3. To organise the discussion topic into a category, select a category or Create New Category from the drop-down list.
  4. To make the discussion topic gradable, click on the appropriate circle under Allow the topic to be graded. A column will automatically be created in the Grade Book.

    Note: If you want to use a grading form, you must create the grading form first before you can attach it to a discussion topic. (Refer to the Grading Forms new window guides for further information.)

  1. Click Save.
  2. Go to the discussion topic link you have just made. If you do not wish for the description to appear on this page then click on the ActionLinks icon next to its title and select Customize Link. In the Custom Description for this Link field, type in a space and delete the remainder of the text, then click Save. The description will still appear within the discussion space.

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Add a link to an existing discussion topic or category

  1. Click on the Build tab.
  2. Go to the folder, learning module or Home Page where you wish to add a link to the discussion topic or category.
  3. Click on the Add Content Link button at the top of the window and select Discussions from the drop-down list.
  4. Click on the discussion topic or category you wish to add from the Select from inventory list.
  5. Click Add Selected.
  6. Go to the discussion topic or category link you have just made. If you do not wish for the description to appear on this page then click on the ActionLinks icon next to its title and select Customize Link. In the Custom Description for this Link field, type in a space and delete the remainder of the text, then click Save. The description will still appear within the discussion space.

Alternatively:

  1. Click on the Build tab.
  2. Click on Discussions in the Course Tools menu.
  3. Click on the box next to the topic or category title.
  4. Go to Create Link on at the bottom of the listed discussions and select the desired location from the drop-down list.
  5. Click on the Go button.
  6. Go to the discussion topic or category link you have just made. If you do not wish for the description to appear on this page then click on the ActionLinks icon next to its title and select Customize Link. In the Custom Description for this Link field, type in a space and delete the remainder of the text, then click Save. The description will still appear within the discussion space.

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Edit a discussion topic

  1. Click on the Build tab.
  2. Click on Discussions in the Course Tools menu.
  3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the relevant discussion topic.
  4. Click on Edit Properties .
  5. Make your changes.
  6. Click Save.

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Remove a link to a discussion topic or category

  1. Click on the Build tab.
  2. Go to the folder, learning module or Home Page from where you wish to delete the link to the discussion topic or category.
  3. Go to the discussion topic or category link and click on the ActionLinks icon next to its title.
  4. Click on Remove Link
  5. When the dialog box appears asking Are you sure you want to remove this link?, click OK.

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Delete a discussion topic

  1. Click on the Build or Teach tab.
  2. Click on Discussions in the Course Tools menu.
  3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the topic you wish to delete.
  4. Click on Delete .

Note: Deleting a discussion topic will also delete all of its messages.

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