ANSWER:

Discussions: Threaded Topic: Read, Reply to, Create Message

The Discussions tool provides asynchronous communication between Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Students. With a Threaded discussion, you can post and read messages. By default, discussion messages are presented in threads, which are a series of replies to the same subject, allowing you to follow the discussion.

TIP: You will be timed out of WebCampus after 60 minutes.  Because you are not seen as active until you communicate with the server (by clicking Post or Save as Draft), you will be timed out if typing in the message box in discussions.  If you are composing a lengthy discussion post, it is recommended that you do so offline in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.  Then, copy and paste into WebCampus.

Step 1: From the Teach tab, click the Discussions tool.

NOTE: While you can post messages from the Student View tab, your name will not come across but the name Demo Student instead, so be sure to post messages from the Teach tab.

Step 2: Select the topic in which you want to interact.

Step 3: In working with existing messages:

• To navigate pages, click the Next Page or Previous Page icon.

  Because the default number of messages per page is 10, when there are more than 10 messages, you will need to go to the next page view.  Or you can set your paging preferences for this tool to a higher number of messages to display on a page.  To navigate pages, use the paging controls in the lower right of the screen:

  To change paging preferences, click the icon.

• To read a message, click the message subject. A new window opens containing the message text and message options.

  To reply to a message, click the Reply button to write a response. When you are ready to send your reply, click on the Post button. It is a good idea to:

• • Preview your message before you post it to the whole class to read.
  • Save as Draft if you wish to review it and post it later.

TIP: When posting a reply, clear the subject heading and enter a new subject heading to identify the purpose and intent of your reply. Meaningful and descriptive titles will make it easier for you and others to see the direction and flow of the discussions when viewing the message index.

• To navigate messages that have replies, in the Message window, click Next Message or Previous Message or click Display Complete Thread.
   
• To modify a message that you previously posted, click on the message and then click on the Edit Message button in the message window. NOTE: If the instructor doesn't allow message editing after posting or if the topic has been locked by the instructor, a student cannot edit their messages.
   
• If peer review is enabled, click View All Reviews.
   

Step 4: To start a new discussion thread:

• Click on the Create Message button, which is located both above and below the message list on the left.
   
• Enter the subject of your message.
   
• Enter the message:
  • To enter a message in Plain Text format, enter it in the Message text box. The message will appear exactly as you have typed it.
     
  • To format your message, you can use the HTML Creator or hand code the HTML:
     
    • To use the HTML Creator, click Enable HTML Creator.

      NOTE: Depending on administrator settings, the HTML Creator may not be available.

      
       
    • To hand code the HTML, select Use HTML. In the Message text box, enter the HTML code.
       
  • If you want to insert an equation into your message, see the Equation Editor folder in this knowlege base.
     
• If you want to attach files to your message, click Add Attachments. The Content Browser pop-up window appears. Locate and select the file.
   
• To look at your message before posting it, click Preview.
   
• Do one of the following:
   
  • If you are not ready to post the message but want to save it, click Save as Draft.

    TIP: This is insurance if you are typing a very long message and don’t want to lose everything in case your computer or Internet crashes. Drafts can be viewed and posted via the View Drafts button, which is located above the message list on the right.

    
     
  • To post the message, click Post.

If you have any further questions, please contact us for support. Thank you.

- WebCampus SupportDiscussions: *How do I post a new message or read and reply to messages in a THREADED topic?