Develop
your Unit Features
and Tools Using
DiscussionsUsing Discussions
- Discussions interface
- Posting messages
- Sample welcome message
- Reading messages
- Replying to messages
- Creating topics
WebCT Discussions is a tool which can be used to facilitate interactive communication among students on topics and questions relevant to the unit. Using Discussions can promote student-to-student and student-to-teacher communication.
To access Discussions:
- Login to your WebCT Unit Homepage
- Select the "Discussion" icon
In Designer Options, you are able to view the Discussions management area and messages posted by unit participants. Discussions is divided into different topic areas so you can set up discussions on specific subjects or questions related to the unit's contents. The default topics are Main and Notes.
Selecting a Topic name allows you to Compose, Search and Read messages for that topic.
Topic Settings allows you to customise the way you view messages.
The Options menu enables you to Create topics and manage messages.
The Organize menu enables you to reorganize your messages.
WebCT Discussions: Designer View
To Post a message,
- Select Compose Message
The Compose Discussion Message area will open in a new browser window.
Compose Message Window
- Choose the Topic you intend to post to
- Enter a Subject and your
Message
(A file can be attached to your message) - Click Post when you are done.
To view your message from the Topic Listing:
- Go to the topic that you sent a message to
- Click Update Listing to see all new messages.
Designers may choose to post an initial, introductory message. A sample message has been provided as a guide to writing your first message.
"Getting to know one another" message. Hi, Throughout the semester, topics for discussion will be posted to the relevant weekly topics. The "Main" topic is for general discussion and the "Notes" topic is for the discussion of online course materials. The best way to get to know each other is to send an introductory message to the "Main" topic and to read messages posted there by other students. In the first message, you should introduce yourself and your area of study to your fellow students. The information that will be of interest to others may include your reasons for studying the unit and what particular topics you would like to focus on. On the more personal side, you may want to write about your background and special interests. If you have any difficulties using the Discussions environment, post a message to the "Main" topic, or alternatively, contact your tutor. |
Feel free to copy and paste this example with your unit information into your own Discussions message.
To read messages, from the Topic Listing:
- Go to the topic you would like to browse.
Discussion messages are displayed in the message listing.
Message Listing
The message display can be changed using the Display options. Threaded shows the links between messages. Unthreaded messages are listed in sequence.
All messages in one subject can be read by clicking on
the icon 
You can reply to a message in one of three ways:
- Reply allows you to post a reply to the Discussions, however your reply does not contain the original message.
- Reply Privately allows you to post a reply to the individual who sent the original message. The reply will be sent to the recipient's WebCT Mail inbox. (Only works when the Email tool is available)
- Quote a copy of the original message is included in your reply.
To reply to a message:
- Select the Subject of the message you want to reply to
- The message will open in a separate browser window
- Select the type of reply.
The Compose Discussion Message window will open and you will be able to post a reply message.
Topics can be added to the Topic Listing and permissions can be set so you can choose who has access to the topics.
The default topics, Main and Notes can be edited however they cannot be deleted.
To add a topic:
- Under the Options menu, select Create Topic
- Provide a Topic Name
- Click Create
Topic Listing with added topic
Topics can be used to organize Discussions messages. Messages can be moved from one topic to another.
The default Topics, Main and Notes, can have different names assigned to them. However, Notes is connected to the Discussions link in a Content Module's Action Menu and cannot be deleted or have messages moved to and from it.
Topics can be made Private, Anonymous and Locked.
Private topics are for designated members only. The members are chosen by the unit coordinator, who can also be added to the topic.
Anonymous topics allow unit participants to leave messages anonymously, as pictured below. This may be useful for unit feedback.
Locked topics do not allow messages to be posted to them and may be useful for unit coordinator announcements.
The lecturer could use topics to coordinate guided discussions, or where students are graded on the number or quality of contributions.
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