Discussions

Types of Online Activities

Your courses may use different Canvas tools to help you participate and submit work. The next few pages introduce common activities and offer tips for completing them.

What Are Discussions?

Canvas Discussions let you share ideas and respond to others about a course topic. Discussions may be graded or ungraded and may involve the whole class or a smaller group.

Depending on your instructor's setup, you may find discussions through the Discussions link in the course menu or through links within Modules.

Before You Post

  • Read the instructions. Check the topic, grading criteria, and any requirements for length, sources, or supporting examples.
  • Check both types of participation. Your initial post answers the discussion prompt. Replies respond to your classmates' posts. Check how many replies your instructor requires.
  • Check the deadlines. Your initial post and replies may have different due dates. Follow the schedule in the discussion instructions.
  • Confirm your post appears. After posting, check the discussion to make sure your contribution was added.

Some discussions require you to submit your initial post before you can see your classmates' responses.

Transcript for Student Discussion Video

Pro Tip: Successful Participation in Online Discussions

  • Post early enough for conversation. Give classmates time to read and respond, and leave yourself time to write thoughtful replies.
  • Add to the discussion. Go beyond “good job” or “me too.” Explain your reasoning, share a relevant example, or ask a thoughtful question.
  • Disagree respectfully. Focus on ideas and explain your perspective. For example: “I see this differently because…” or “How would this apply to…?”

For more guidance, review Netiquette and UNM Canvas Best Practices.