CTools Help Document

Discussions

Includes

Description
Flat vs. Threaded
Examples of use
Viewing the list of discussion categories and topics
Layout options
Creating a new discussion category
Creating a new discussion topic
Posting a discussion item that you saved as a draft
Replying to a discussion item
Adding an attachment to a discussion item

The CTools Discussion tool allows structured conversations that are organized in categories.

Site participants can post replies to a topic (a "flat" discussion) or to other replies (a "threaded" discussion)  and can view these discussions in either Row or Column format.  They can also attach files to share with other discussion participants. 

When posting a topic in the Discussion area, instructors have the ability to specify whether they wish to allow students to respond only to that ! topic or to any topic posted. If you allow postings only to the topics you specify, then you create a flat discussion. If, on the other hand, you allow replies to any posting, then you create a threaded discussion. Threaded discussions are by nature more interactive because users are able to reply to a reply. Flat discussions, in contrast, tend to be more structured and for this reason are more easily controlled.

Some classes use categories like "Homework Questions" and "Exam Review" to structure their Discussion feature. Others create categories for course concepts.

Many collaboration sites allow any site participant to start a discussion topic, which facilitates a more collegial discussion environment.

Viewing the list of discussion categories and topics

When you click Discussions in the left-hand menubar, you will see a list. Under each category, you'll see any topics and responses that have been added. To view just the categories, click Collapse All. To view the categories and all the topics and responses, click Expand All.

The small paper-stack icon will expand the view so that a top-level item and all the responses below it are visible.

The Discussion tool uses two frames to display discussion topics and replies. The layout can be changed to a vertical or horizontal layout. In the vertical layout (choose the 2 Column Layout in the View pulldown menu in the Discussion tool), the left frame shows the hierarchy of Categories, Topics, and Replies. Clicking on a topic or reply shows the content of the message in the right frame. To respond to a topic or reply, click the Reply button at the bottom of the content window. The content window is the right frame in a 2 Column Layout, and the bottom frame in a 2 Row Layout.

Creating a new discussion category

You can organize discussions into categories

1... Click Discussion in the menubar.

2... Click Add Category .

3... Type a category in the box provided.

4... Click Create Category.

Creating a new discussion topic

1... Click Discussion in the menubar.

2... Click Add Topic.

3... Create a new category by typing it in the box provided, or, if you wish to start a new discussion topic under an existing category, you can choose one from the pop-up menu.

4... Type a topic in the box provided.

5... Choose whether you would like to allow replies to! any message (such as a response to your topic) or just to the topic.

6... Type your text for the discussion topic in the message box.

7... To add an attachment to your Discussion topic, see "Adding an Attachment to your Discussion item," below.

8... You can either save a draft of your entry or click Add Topic to post the topic to the discussion.

If you save it as a draft, it will show up in the list with other discussion items, but will be marked as a draft and will be visible only to you, the author.

Posting a discussion item that you saved as a draft

1... Expand the Topic where the draft was saved by clicking on the Expand/Collapse icon (the small black triangle located to the left of all posted Categories and Topics). Alternatively, click the Expand All link at the top of the Discussion page to look for all saved drafts.

2... Any saved drafts should now be visible under the Topic in which they were created. Preceding each saved Discussion reply will be the word "Draft" in red letters.

3... Click on the saved draft to open the "Editing draft" page.

4... Make any wanted changes to the draft and click the Add Reply button at the bottom of the page to post your saved draft to the Discussion topic.

Are you finding what you're looking for? Please send feedback about this online help guide to ctools-doc-comments@umich.edu Thanks! (For questions about using CTools, send email to ctools-support@umich.edu)

Replying to a discussion item

1... Click Discussion in the menubar.

You will see a list of discussion topics.

2... Click the title of the topic or response to which you would like to reply to. You will see a little green arrow next to it.

If you don't see a particular topic, click the little black triangle next to its category so that it points down. This will reveal all the topics in that category. Click the twisty (the tiny black arrow) next to a topic to see its responses.

3... Click Reply to Message. (You may need to scroll down to see the Reply button.)

4... Type in a subject (the subject is required).

5... Type in the text of your response.

6... If you would like to add an attachment, see "Adding an attachment to your discussion item," below.

7... You can save your response as a draft or click Add Reply to send your response to the discussion.

To send your response after you save it as a draft, see the section above, Posting a discussion item that you saved as a draft.

Adding an attachment to a discussion item

You can add an attachment to a topic or response while you are creating it. You can also add an attachment by revising a topic or response that you saved as a draft.

1... Click the Add Attachments button on the window for creating topics or responses.

2... Choose whether you would like to add an attachment that is a local file on your computer, a website URL, or a resource on the site.

A... Attach a local file from your computer.

To add a local file, click the Local File... button and then either:

- type in a filename in the box provided, or

- click Browse, find the file in the list that appears, select it, and click Open .

- click the Attach button to attac! h the resource(s) to your announcement.

- click the Save button to return to the Topic Creating screen.

B... Attach a website URL.

To attach a URL, click the Website URL... button and then:

- type the url in the box provided. For example, www.umich.edu

- click the Attach button to attach the URL resource to your announcement.

- click the Save button to return to the Topic Creating screen .

C... Attach an item from the resources section of your website.

- click the From Resources button...

- check the box(es) next to the resource(s) you want to attach.

- click the Continue button.

- in the next window, click the Save button to return to the Topic Creating screen .

Note : After you have created your attachment, remember to Post, Preview, or Save a Draft of your announcement. The small trash can symbol next to a discussion item will delete that item if clicked. (You will have a chance to confirm that you want to delete it, first.) Only instructors and users with special permissions can delete discussion items.

The small paper stack icon will expand the view so that an top-level item and all the responses below it are visible.

Are you finding what you're looking for? Please send feedback about this online help guide to ctools-doc-comments@umich.edu Thanks! (For questions about using CTools, send email to ctools-support@umich.edu)