Canvas Discussions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Overview
• Features
• Multiple Due Dates for a Graded Discussion (Canvas Checkpoints)
• Images Showing Visual Change in User Interface
• Support

Overview

The Canvas Discussions user interface changed across Penn on July 5th, 2024. This change updates how Canvas Discussions look and feel, but no user features will be lost. 

Features

In addition to all the essential Canvas Discussions features, users will now also see:

• Roles listed next to the user's name, such as TA or Instructor.
• Increased ability to filter and search the discussion board.
• A mention user feature that allows you to @ users to draw their attention to a post. 
  • Please note: Users will need to enable New Mentions in the Canvas user notification menu under the Discussions subheader. If you type @ and then don't see the user's name, they haven't enabled this feature on their end.
• The ability to quote someone else's post for additional clarity.
• An anonymous ungraded discussion ability.
  • Please note: All students are anonymous to instructors and to one another with this feature enabled.
• The ability to view the edit history of a student reply to see all iterations of the post.
• Customize the discussion layout to suit user preferences, this includes a new split line view option.

• Multiple due dates for a discussion. This allows instructors to assign one date for the initial post and a second date for replies being due.
  

Multiple Due Dates for a Graded Discussion (Canvas Checkpoints)

To create a multiple-due-date graded discussion, the instructor should navigate to the Discussions area of Canvas, select "+ add discussion" to start a new discussion, and then select all of the options that apply to the discussion. (see example below)

Once the instructor selects the option "Graded", an additional box will appear asking if you would like to "Assign Graded Checkpoints" which you should also select. This allows you to add in a due date for the main reply to the discussion topic and then another due date for when additional replies are due. This area allows the instructor to designate what the initial main reply post will be worth if completed by the due date and what each additional reply would be worth if completed.

At the very bottom of the discussion, the instructor will see two due date areas, one for the main reply to the discussion topic and then an area for when replies are due. 

An example of using checkpoints for graded discussions: Students need to read the discussion prompt and reply to the discussion by Wednesday of that week (the main reply to the topic) and then return to the discussion and post an additional reply to a peer by Sunday of that week to receive full points for the discussion.

Checkpoints are not available for non-graded discussions.

As this is a new functionality of Canvas, we recommend noting that the discussion has multiple due dates to the students in the instructions. 

Images Showing Visual Change in User Interface

Canvas Discussions (Before May 2024)

Canvas Discussions (After July 2024) 

Support

If you have any questions, please reach out to Online-learning-help@sas.upenn.edu