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  3. Completing Coursework in Brightspace

Completing a Discussion Board

Follow these instructions to complete a discussion board activity in Brightspace.

About Discussion Boards

Discussion boards contain prompts that you and your peers will respond to. This is where the whole class can discuss the week’s content and learn from one another. You will be required to respond to some of your classmates’ posts.

Tip: Always compose your discussion board work in an outside document like a Google Doc or Word document. This will allow you to have a backup of your work for later review or if there is a technical issue. 


Submitting a Discussion Board Response

  1. Open the week’s discussion board topic. 
  2. Review the provided instructions and linked rubric. 
  3. Click the Start a New Thread button.
  4. Title your post Week # Discussion Board_FirstNameLastName
  5. Paste in your pre-written text or compose your response in the text box.
  6. Format your response and add attachments or hyperlinks using the buttons shown below.

    • Click here for instructions on attaching videos and other files. 
  7. Click Post.

NOTE:

  • You cannot edit your discussion board response once it is posted. You can only delete a response if there have been no replies to it. 

Posting Peer Responses

  1. Click the hyperlinked title of a peer’s discussion board post.
  2. Click the Reply to Thread button.
  3. Type your response.
    • Review the following resources on how to format your text and include links, video responses, or other attachments.
      • Responding in Brightspace
      • Sample Discussion Board Post
4.    Click Post.

NOTES:

  • It is best practice to begin your reply by using your peer’s name and sign off with your name at the end of your reply.
  • Peer responses are generally due on Fridays. Check your course’s calendar for specific deadlines. 

Including a Video Recording in a Discussion Board Response

Option 1: Use Brightspace’s video note tool to record and attach a video directly in Brightspace*.

*Note: Brightspace's video note tool does not have a screen recording feature. If you need to record your screen, use your preferred video recording tool

  1. Click the Insert Stuff button in the menu at the top of the response text box.
  2. Select Add Video Note.
  3. When you are ready to record, click the blue New Recording button.
  4. To end your recording, click Stop Recording and then click Next.
  5. Select English as your video's audio language and enable captioning.
  6. Click Next and follow the remaining prompts to insert the recording into your discussion board response or assignment.
  7. Post your discussion board response or Submit your assignment.

For additional assistance, please watch this short video: 

Option 2: Submit a link to a video created through your preferred video recording tool. 

  1. Record a video using your preferred tool. 
  2. Include a shareable link to your video somewhere in your discussion board response.
    • Make sure your video is set so anyone with the link can view it.
  3. Post your discussion board response.

Can I edit my discussion board post?

No, you cannot edit a submitted discussion board response. However, as long as no one has yet replied to your post, you can delete it and resubmit.

To delete a post, click the down arrow next to your post and select Delete Thread, as depicted below.

If someone has already replied to your post, you can add a thread to your original post to provide more information or a correction.