Creating a Discussion Topic
Step 1: Under Course Tools, select Discussions (see figure below). Note: Discussion categories can be created from either the Build or Teach Tabs.
Step 2: From the main Discussion page, click the Create Topic button (see figure below).
Step 3: The Create Discussion Topic screen appears (see figure below). Enter a title for your discussion topic within the Title text box
Step 4: (Optional) Enter a description for your discussion topic within the Description text box. Discussion topic descriptions will be displayed alongside Discussion topics in the Teach and Student views. Note: You may format your message using the HTML editor by selecting the 'on' radio button.
Step 5: Next to Item Visibility, select whether to show or hide the item. Note: By default, the ‘Show Item’ radio button is selected.
Step 6: Complete the Topic Gradability section by:
a) Placing a check in the 'Topic is Gradable' option if you would like to make your discussion topic gradable, and naming the grade book column within the appropriate text box. Note: The Discussion Topic name is the default Grade Book column title. Proceed to Step 6b. If you do NOT want to make your topic gradable, leave the 'Topic is Gradable' box unchecked and proceed to Step 7.
b) Select the appropriate radio button, Numeric or Alphanumeric, to determine the type of grade. If you select Numeric, provide a point value in the 'Out of ___' text box.
Step 7: Complete the Topic Settings section by:
a) Selecting whether or not student posts are editable; i.e., if you check the Editable Posts box, students can modify their contributions after they have posted them.
b) Selecting to lock this discussion topic. By checking the Locked box, students will NOT be able to make contributions to this topic; i.e., they will only be able to read your messages.
c) Selecting whether or not discussion posts are Anonymous. By selecting this option, author names will NOT be displayed with posts. Note: This option is NOT available if your discussion topic is gradable.
Step 8: Click the 
icon to expand the More Options section. Within More Options, you can organize your discussion topic by choosing: (1) Do not place topic in category, (2) Specify an existing category, or (3) Creating a new category. Note: You CANNOT move a topic to a category at a later date--it MUST be done when you create the topic. For this example, we have selected Specify an existing category, and have chosen a previously created category (Unit 1) from the dropdown box.
Step 8: Click the Save button to finish creating your Discussion Topic, and return to the main Discussion page. From the main Discussion page, you will see the newly created discussion topic (see figure below).
