Commit 5eb17f80 by Alison Hodges

Updated with UI changes in Studio and LMS, terminology

parent 1bc48af7
......@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ July, 2014
* - Date
- Change
* - 07/10/14
- Updated the :ref:`Discussions` chapter to add an
:ref:`Overview_discussions` section and to reflect changes to the
Discussion list and to the Advanced Settings page in Studio.
* - 07/01/14
- Updated :ref:`The Course End Date` to specify when students can earn and
access certificates.
......
......@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ A
See :ref:`The Course Summary Page` for more information.
.. _Advanced Editor-g:
.. _Advanced Editor_g:
**Advanced Editor**
......@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@ C
.. _Cohort:
**Cohort**
.. **Cohort**
A group of students that participate in the class together. A cohort can have forum discussions apart from the rest of the students.
.. A group of students that participate in the class together. A cohort can have forum discussions apart from the rest of the students.
.. _Component_g:
......@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ C
**Courseware**
The page where students access the primary instructional materials for your course. Sections, subsections, units and components are all accessed from the Courseware page.
The page where students access the primary instructional materials for your course. Sections, subsections, units, and components are all accessed from the Courseware page.
.. _Custom Response Problem:
......@@ -155,20 +156,20 @@ D
.. _edX Research Guide: http://edx.readthedocs.org/projects/devdata/en/latest/
.. _Discussion Forum:
.. _Discussion:
**Discussion Forum**
**Discussion**
The page where students can communicate with peers and staff by typing in questions and responding to each other.
The set of topics defined to promote course-wide or unit-specific dialog. Students use the discussion topics to communicate with each other and the course staff in threaded excahnges.
See :ref:`Working with Discussion Components` for more information.
See :ref:`Discussions` for more information.
.. _Discussion Component:
**Discussion Component**
Forums that course staff can add directly to units. For example, a Video component can be followed by a Discussion component so that students can discuss the video content without having to leave the page.
Discussion topics that course staff add directly to units. For example, a Video component can be followed by a Discussion component so that students can discuss the video content without having to leave the page.
See :ref:`Working with Discussion Components` for more information.
......@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ E
**edX101**
edX’s online course about how to create online courses. The intended audience is faculty and university administrators It is also the first course ever to have been developed entirely using edX Studio.
edX’s online course about how to create online courses. The intended audience is faculty and university administrators. It is also the first course ever to have been developed entirely using edX Studio.
.. _edX101: https://edge.edx.org/courses/edX/edX101/How_to_Create_an_edX_Course/about
......@@ -220,7 +221,15 @@ E
Practice or practical problems interspersed in edX course content to keep the learner engaged. Exercises are also an important measure of teaching effectiveness and learner comprehension.
.. _F:
***
F
***
**Forum**
See :ref:`Discussion`.
.. _G:
......@@ -311,7 +320,9 @@ L
**Learning Management System (LMS)**
The platform that students use to view courses.
The platform that students use to view courses, and that course staff members
use to manage enrollment and staff privileges, moderate dicussions, and
access data while the course is running.
......@@ -385,7 +396,10 @@ P
**Pages**
Pages that supplement the courseware for a course. Each page appears in your course's navigation bar.
Pages organize course materials into categories that students select in the
learning management system. Pages provide access to the courseware and to
tools and uploaded files that supplement the course. Each page appears in
your course's navigation bar.
See :ref:`Adding Pages to a Course` for more information.
......@@ -464,11 +478,20 @@ S
**Section**
The topmost category in your course. A section can represent a time period in your course, or another organizing principle.
The topmost category in your course. A section can represent a time period in your course or another organizing principle.
See :ref:`Sections` for more information.
.. _Short Course Description:
**Short Course Description**
The description of your course that appears on the edX `Course List
<https://www.edx.org/course-list>`_ page.
See :ref:`Describe Your Course` for more information.
.. _Simple Editor_g:
......@@ -488,14 +511,6 @@ S
.. _Short Course Description:
**Short Course Description**
The description of your course that appears on the edX `Course List <https://www.edx.org/course-list>`_ page.
See :ref:`Describe Your Course` for more information.
.. _T:
......
......@@ -68,11 +68,14 @@ Time sensitive problems
* Please alert the course staff about problems that need to be dealt with quickly, such as problems with a graded assignment. Setting up a course email address that is checked frequently is a good way to manage these alerts.
* Content Questions
============================
Content Questions
============================
- Assist with content questions sensitively, but be careful not to post spoilers. Do not ask students to post their solutions!
* Assist with content questions sensitively, but be careful not to post
spoilers. Do not ask students to post their solutions!
- A good guiding question can be better than an answer.
* A good guiding question can be better than an answer.
============================
Redundant posts
......
......@@ -4,11 +4,18 @@
Discussions
############################
Discussions, or discussion forums, foster interaction among your students and between students and course staff. You set up discussion topics and categories when you create your course, and then run and moderate discussions throughout the course to guide participation and develop course community.
Discussions, or discussion forums, foster interaction among your students and
between students and course staff. You can set up different topics to guide
these interactions when you create your course, and then run and moderate
discussions throughout the course to encourage participation and develop course
community.
Discussions are also excellent sources of feedback and ideas for the future.
For options you can use to run and moderate discussions, see the following topics:
For options you can use to run and moderate discussions, see the following
sections:
* :ref:`Overview_discussions`
* :ref:`Organizing_discussions`
......@@ -18,47 +25,88 @@ For options you can use to run and moderate discussions, see the following topic
* :ref:`Close_discussions`
.. _Overview_discussions:
********************************
Overview
********************************
Students and staff use course discussions to share ideas, exchange views, and
consider different viewpoints. In a discussion, there are three hierarchical
levels of interaction.
* A *post* is the first level of interaction. A post opens a new subject. Posts
are often posed as questions, either to start a conversation or to surface an
issue that requires some action.
* A *response* is the second level of interaction. A response is a reply made
directly to a post to provide a solution or continue the conversation.
* A *comment* is the third level of interaction. A comment is often a
clarification or side note made to a specific reponse, rather than to the
post as a whole.
The dialog created by a post, its responses, and the comments on those
repsonses is called a *thread*.
All course staff members and enrolled students can add posts, reponses, and
comments, and view all of the posts, responses, and comments made by other
course participants. Discussion threads are saved as part of the course
history.
.. _Organizing_discussions:
*************************************************
Set Up Discussions for Your Course
*************************************************
Discussions in an edX course include both the specific topics that you add to course units as discussion components, and broader forums on course-wide areas of interest, such as Feedback, Troubleshooting, or Technical Help, that you can add as discussion categories.
Discussions in an edX course include both the specific topics that you add to
course units as discussion components, and broader forums on course-wide areas
of interest, such as Feedback, Troubleshooting, or Technical Help. You add both types of topics in Studio.
============================================
Add Units With a Discussion Component
============================================
Typically, all units are added during the design and creation of your course in Studio. To add a component to a unit, follow the instructions in :ref:`Working with Discussion Components`.
Typically, all units are added during the design and creation of your course in
Studio. To add a component to a unit, follow the instructions in :ref:`Working
with Discussion Components`.
This type of discussion is subject to the release date of the section that contains it. Students cannot contribute to these discussions until that date.
=====================================
Create Discussion Categories
Create Course-Wide Discussion Topics
=====================================
All courses include a page named **Discussion**. When you create a course, a discussion category named General is available for you to include by default. You can add more discussion categories to guide how students share and find information during your course. Categories might include Feedback, Troubleshooting, or Technical Help. Discussions in these categories can begin as soon as your course is available.
All courses include a page named **Discussion**. When you create a course, a
discussion topic named "General" is available for you to include by default.
You can add more course-wide discussion topics to guide how students share and
find information during your course. Such course-wide topics might include
Feedback, Troubleshooting, or Technical Help. Discussions in these topics can
begin as soon as your course is available.
To create a discussion category:
To create a course-wide discussion topic:
#. Open your course in Studio.
#. Select **Settings** > **Advanced Settings**.
#. Select **Settings**, then **Advanced Settings**.
#. Scroll down to the **Policy Key** for **discussion_topics**. By default, its **Policy Value** is:
#. Scroll down to the **Discussion Topic Mapping** policy key. By default, its
value is:
.. image:: ../Images/Discussion_Add_initial.png
:alt: Policy value of {"General": {"id": "i4x-test_doc-SB101-course-2014_Jan"}}
:alt: Policy value of {"General": {"id": "i4x-edX-Open_DemoX-course-edx_demo_course"}}
4. Copy the three lines provided for the General discussion category and paste them above the closing brace:
4. Copy the three lines provided for the General topic and paste
them above the closing brace:
.. image:: ../Images/Discussion_Add_paste.png
:alt: Policy value of {"General": {"id": "i4x-test_doc-SB101-course-2014_Jan"} "General": {"id": "i4x-test_doc-SB101-course-2014_Jan"}}
5. Replace the second "General" with the quoted name of your new discussion category.
5. Replace the second "General" with the quoted name of your new topic.
#. Change the second id value to a unique identifier. For example, append a reference to the category name.
#. Change the second id value to a unique identifier. For example, append a
reference to the name of the topic.
#. Add a comma after the first closing brace.
......@@ -67,10 +115,11 @@ To create a discussion category:
8. Click **Save Changes**.
When students click the **Discussion** page for your course, the drop-down list includes this new category.
When students click the **Discussion** page for your course, the drop-down
Discussion list now includes this topic.
.. image:: ../Images/NewCategory_Discussion.png
:alt: Image of a new category named Course Q&A in the list of discussions
:alt: Image of a new topic named Course Q&A in the list of discussions
.. _Assigning_discussion_roles:
......@@ -78,98 +127,152 @@ When students click the **Discussion** page for your course, the drop-down list
Assign Discussion Administration Roles
==========================================
You can designate a team of people to help you run course discussions. Different options for working with discussion posts are available to discussion administrators with these roles:
* Discussion moderators can edit and delete posts, review posts flagged for misuse, close and reopen threads, pin posts and endorse responses, and, if the course is cohorted, see posts from all cohorts. Responses and comments made by moderators are marked as "Staff".
* Discussion community TAs have the same options for working with discussions as moderators. Responses and comments made by community TAs are marked as "Community TA".
* Discussion admins have the same options for working with discussions as moderators. Admins can also assign these discussion management roles to more people while your course is running, or remove a role from a user whenever necessary. Responses and comments made by admins are marked as "Staff".
You can designate a team of people to help you run course discussions.
.. note::
Course staff and instructors that you set up in Studio are not automatically
granted discussion administration roles. You must explicitly grant discussion
administration roles to course staff and instructors if they intend to
administer course discussions.
The course team that you set up in Studio (or the course staff and
instructors you add on the Instructor Dashboard) are not automatically
granted discussion administration roles. Discussion administration roles must
be explicitly granted to members of the course team for them to moderate or
administer course discussions. The course author, team members with Admin
access (Studio), and Instructors (Instructor Dashboard) can grant discussion
administration roles
Before you can assign roles to your discussion administrators, you need their email addresses or usernames.
Different options for working with discussions are available through
these roles:
* To get this information for a staff member, on the Instructor Dashboard click **Membership** and then select **Course Staff** from the drop-down list.
* To get this information for an enrolled student, on the Instructor Dashboard click **Data Download** > **Download profile information as a CSV**.
* Discussion moderators can edit and delete messages at any level, review
messages flagged for misuse, close and reopen posts, pin posts, and endorse
responses. Posts made by moderators are marked as "By: Staff" in the list of
posts. Responses and comments made by moderators have a colored "Staff"
banner. This role is often given to course team members who already have the
Course Staff role.
To assign a role:
.. removed this clause from 1st sentence per JAAkana and MHoeber: , and, if the course is cohorted, see posts from all cohorts
#. View the live version of your course.
* Discussion community TAs have the same options for working with discussions
as moderators. Posts made by community TAs are marked as "By: Community TA"
in the list of posts. Responses and comments made by community TAs have a
colored "Community TA" banner. This role is often given to students.
#. Click **Instructor**, then click **Membership**.
* Discussion admins have the same options for working with discussions as
moderators, and their posts, responses, and comments have the same "Staff"
identifier. This role can be reserved for assignment to course team members
who have the Instructor role only: the discussion admins can then both
moderate discussions and give other users these discussion management roles
whenever necessary.
#. In the Administration List Management section, use the drop-down list to select Discussion Admins, Discussion Moderators, or Discussion Community TAs.
Before you can assign roles to your discussion team, you need their email
addresses or usernames.
#. Under the list of users who currently have that role, enter an email address or username and click **Add** for the role type.
* To get this information for a course team member, on the Instructor Dashboard
click **Membership** and then select **Course Staff** or **Instructor** from
the drop-down list.
#. To remove an assigned role, view the list of users and then click **Revoke access**.
* To get this information for any enrolled student, on the Instructor Dashboard
click **Data Download**, then **Download profile information as a CSV**.
.. _Running_discussions:
To assign a role, you must be the course author or an Instructor (that is, you
are identified in Studio as a team member with Admin access).
*********************
Run a discussion
*********************
#. View the live version of the course.
On an ongoing basis, discussion administrators run the course discussions by making contributions and guiding student posts into threads. Techniques that you can use throughout your course to make discussions successful follow.
#. Click **Instructor**, then click **Membership**.
========================
Seed a Discussion
========================
#. In the Administration List Management section, use the drop-down list to
select Discussion Admins, Discussion Moderators, or Discussion Community
TAs.
Before you contribute to a discussion, you can decide whether you want to be identified as a staff member or community TA, or to appear like other students' work. Depending on the subject and your purpose, one or the other might be more appropriate to spark discussion and inform students.
#. Under the list of users who currently have that role, enter an email address
or username and click **Add** for the role type.
You can also post anonymously. Regardless of your role, you can choose to make a post anonymous. However, you may want to discourage your students from posting anonymously, and therefore choose not to use this option yourself.
#. To remove an assigned role, view the list of users and then click **Revoke
access**.
* To identify your posts with your role, log in with your discussion administrator email address and add the post or response. The responses and comments that you make include a colored banner with either "Staff" or "Community TA".
.. _Running_discussions:
* To post as a student, you must set up an alternate account with a different email address, go to the course URL and register, and then join the discussion. When you post as a student, your responses and comments do not have a banner or other distinguishing features: they appear the same as any other student post.
*********************
Run a Discussion
*********************
.. note:: Posts by discussion administrators do not include a colored "Staff" or "Community TA" banner. The colored banner appears only when discussion administrators respond to existing posts or make a comment.
On an ongoing basis, the members of your discussion team run the course
discussion by making contributions, endorsing responses, and guiding student
messages into pertinent threads. Techniques that you can use throughout your
course to make discussions successful follow.
==========================================
Use Conventions in Discussion Subjects
==========================================
To identify certain types of posts and make them easier for your students to find, you can define a set of standard tags to include at the beginning of the subject. Examples follow.
To identify certain types of messages and make them easier to find, you can
define a set of standard tags to include in the subject of a post or in the
body of a response or comment. Examples follow.
* Use "[OFFICIAL]" at the start of announcements about changes to the course.
* Post information about corrected errors with a subject that begins "[ERRATA]".
* Provide information about corrected errors with a subject that begins
"[ERRATA]".
* Direct students to use "[STAFF]" in the subject of each post that needs the
attention of a course staff member.
Both your discussion team and your students can use tags like these to search
the discussions more effectively.
========================
Seed Discussions
========================
To help students learn how to get the most of course discussions, and find the
best discussion topic to use for their questions, you can seed discussions by
adding posts before your course starts. Some examples follow.
.. * In the General discussion category, add an "[INTRO]" post to initiate a thread for student and staff introductions.
* In the General topic (which is included in every course by default), add an
[INTRO] post to initiate a thread for student and staff introductions.
* Direct students to use "[STAFF]" in the subject of each post that needs the attention of a course staff member.
* For each topic that you create, add the first post to it to describe
the way you intend it to be used. In addition to providing guidance, these
initial messages can also act as models for students to follow when they
create their own posts.
* If you include discussion components along with problem components in a unit,
you can add a post that encourages students to use the discussion topic to
ask for help with the problems, but reminds them not to post the answers.
======================================
Minimize Thread Proliferation
======================================
To encourage longer, threaded discussions rather than many similar, separate posts, discussion administrators can use these techniques. However, be aware that long threads (with more than a 200 responses and comments) can be difficult to read and slow to display, and can therefore result in an unsatisfactory experience in the discussion.
To encourage longer, threaded discussions rather than many similar, separate
posts, the discussion team can use these techniques. However, be aware that
long threads (with more than 200 responses and comments) can be difficult to
read, and can therefore result in an unsatisfactory experience in the
discussion.
* Pin a post.
Pinning a post makes it appear first in the discussion, so that it is more likely that students will see and respond to it. Otherwise, each post is listed in reverse chronological order or sorted as each student chooses. You can write your own post and then pin it, or pin a post by any author. Click **Pin Thread**.
* Pin a post. Pinning a post makes it appear at the top of the list of posts.
As a result, it is more likely that students will see and respond to pinned
posts. You can write your own post and then pin it, or pin a post by any
author. Click **Pin Thread**.
.. image:: ../Images/Pin_Discussion.png
:alt: Image of the pin icon for discussion posts
* Endorse a response.
Endorsing a response indicates that it provides value to the discussion, such as a correct answer to a question. Click the **check mark** that displays at upper right of the response.
* Endorse a response. Endorsing a response indicates that it provides value to
the discussion, such as a correct answer to a question. Click the **check
mark** that displays at upper right of the response.
.. image:: ../Images/Endorse_Discussion.png
:alt: Image of the Endorse button for discussion posts
* Close a thread.
You can respond to a redundant post or response by pasting in a link to the thread that you prefer students to contribute to, and then prevent further thread interaction by closing the entire post or a specific response. Click the **Close** button that displays below the post or response to close it.
* Provide post/response/comment guidelines.
A set of :ref:`Guidance for Discussion Moderators` or a post in the General discussion can provide guidance about when to create a new thread, respond to an existing post, or comment on a response.
* Close a post. You can respond to a redundant post by (optionally) pasting in
a link to the post that you prefer students to contribute to, and prevent
further interaction by closing the post. Click the **Close** button that
displays below the post to close it.
* Provide post/response/comment guidelines. A set of :ref:`Guidance for
Discussion Moderators` or a post in a course-wide discussion topic (such
as **General**) can provide guidance about when to start a new thread by
adding a post, responding to an existing post, or commenting on a response.
.. _Moderating_discussions:
......@@ -177,17 +280,28 @@ To encourage longer, threaded discussions rather than many similar, separate pos
Moderate Discussions
***********************
Discussion administrators monitor discussions and keep them productive. They can also collect inforrmation, such as areas of particular confusion or interest, and relay it to the course staff.
The members of a course discussion team monitor discussions and keep them
productive. They can also collect information, such as areas of particular
confusion or interest, and relay it to the course staff.
Developing and sustaining a positive discussion culture requires that sufficient moderator time is dedicated to reviewing and responding to discussions. Keeping up-to-date with a large MOOC forum requires a commitment of 5 or more hours per week, and involves reading posts, replying to and editing posts, and communicating with the other discussion administrators and course staff.
Developing and sustaining a positive discussion culture requires that
sufficient moderator time is dedicated to reviewing and responding to
discussions. Keeping up-to-date with a large MOOC forum requires a commitment
of 5 or more hours per week, and involves reading threads, replying to and
editing posts, and communicating with the rest of the discussion team and
course staff.
For information on setting up moderators for your course, see :ref:`Assigning_discussion_roles`.
For information on setting up moderators for your course, see
:ref:`Assigning_discussion_roles`.
========================================
Provide Guidelines for Students
========================================
You can develop a set of best practices for discussion participation and make them available to students as a course handout file or on a defined page in your course. These guidelines can define your expectations and optionally introduce features of edX discussions.
You can develop a set of best practices for discussion participation and make
them available to students as a course handout file or on a defined page in
your course. These guidelines can define your expectations and optionally
introduce features of edX discussions.
.. For a template that you can use to develop your own guidelines, see :ref:`Discussion Forum Guidelines`.
......@@ -195,69 +309,95 @@ You can develop a set of best practices for discussion participation and make th
Develop a Positive Discussion Culture
========================================
Monitors can cultivate qualities in their own discussion interactions to make their influence positive and their time productive.
Monitors can cultivate qualities in their own discussion interactions to make
their influence positive and their time productive.
* Encourage quality posts: thank students whose posts have a positive impact and who answer questions.
* Encourage quality contributions: thank students whose posts have a positive
impact and who answer questions.
* Check links, images, and videos in addition to the text that students post. Edit offensive or inappropriate posts quickly, and explain why.
* Check links, images, and videos in addition to the text of each message. Edit
offensive or inappropriate posts quickly, and explain why.
* Review posts with a large number of votes and recognize "star posters" publicly and regularly.
* Review posts with a large number of votes and recognize "star posters"
publicly and regularly.
* Stay on topic yourself: before responding to a post, be sure to read it completely.
* Stay on topic yourself: before responding to a post, be sure to read it
completely.
* Maintain a positive attitude. Acknowledge problems and errors without assigning blame.
* Maintain a positive attitude. Acknowledge problems and errors without
assigning blame.
* Provide timely responses. More time needs to be scheduled for answering discussion questions when deadlines for homework, quizzes, and other milestones approach.
* Provide timely responses. More time needs to be scheduled for answering
discussion questions when deadlines for homework, quizzes, and other
milestones approach.
* Discourage redundancy: before responding to a post search for similar posts. Make your response in the most pertinent or active thread, then use links to direct other posts to that thread.
* Discourage redundancy: before responding to a post, search for similar posts.
Make your response to the most pertinent or active post and then copy its URL
and use it to respond to the redundant threads.
* Publicize issues raised in the discussions: add questions and their answers to an FAQ discussion category, or announce them on the Course Info page.
* Publicize issues raised in the discussions: add questions and their answers
to an FAQ topic, or announce them on the Course Info page.
For a template that you can use to develop guidelines for your course moderators, see :ref:`Guidance for Discussion Moderators`.
For a template that you can use to develop guidelines for your course
moderators, see :ref:`Guidance for Discussion Moderators`.
==================
Edit Posts
Edit Messages
==================
Posts and responses can be edited by discussion moderators, community TAs, and admins. Posts that include spoilers or solutions, or that contain inappropriate or off-topic material, should be edited quickly to remove text, images, or links.
Discussion moderators, community TAs, and admins can edit the content of posts,
responses, and comments. Messages that include spoilers or solutions, or that
contain inappropriate or off-topic material, should be edited quickly to remove
text, images, or links.
#. Log in to the course with your discussion administrator username.
#. Click the **Edit** button below the post or response.
#. Click the **Edit** button below the post or response or the pencil icon for
the comment.
#. Remove the problematic portion of the post, or replace it with standard text such as "[REMOVED BY MODERATOR]".
#. Remove the problematic portion of the message, or replace it with standard
text such as "[REMOVED BY MODERATOR]".
#. Communicate the reason for your change. For example, "Posting a solution violates the honor code."
#. Communicate the reason for your change. For example, "Posting a solution
violates the honor code."
==================
Delete Posts
Delete Messages
==================
Posts and responses can be deleted by discussion moderators, community TAs, and admins. Posts that include spam or abusive language may need to be deleted, rather than edited.
Discussion moderators, community TAs, and discussion admins can delete the
content of posts, responses, and comments. Posts that include spam or abusive
language may need to be deleted, rather than edited.
#. Log in to the course with your discussion administrator username.
#. Click the **Delete** button below the post or response.
#. Click the **Delete** button below the post or response or the "X" icon for
the comment.
#. Click **OK** to confirm the deletion.
.. how to communicate with the poster?
**Important**: If a post is threatening or indicates serious harmful intent, contact campus security at your institution. Report the incident before taking any other action.
.. important:: If a message is threatening or indicates serious harmful intent, contact campus security at your institution. Report the incident before taking any other action.
==================================
Respond to Reports of Misuse
==================================
Students can use the **Report Misuse** flag to indicate posts that they find inappropriate. Moderators, community TAs, and admins can check for posts that have been flagged in this way and edit or delete them as needed.
Students can use the **Report Misuse** flag to indicate messages that they find
inappropriate. Moderators, community TAs, and admins can check for messages
that have been flagged in this way and edit or delete them as needed.
#. View the live version of your course and click **Discussion** at the top of the page.
#. View the live version of your course and click **Discussion** at the top of
the page.
#. On the drop-down list of discussion topics click **Show Flagged Discussions**.
#. On the drop-down Discussion list click **Flagged Discussions**.
#. Review each post listed as a flagged discussion. Posts and responses show a flag and **Misuse Reported** in red font; comments show only a red flag.
#. Review each post listed as a flagged discussion. Posts and responses show a
flag and **Misuse Reported** in red font; comments show only a red flag.
#. Edit or delete the post. Alternatively, leave the post unchanged and click **Misuse Reported** or the flag to remove the notification.
#. Edit or delete the post, response, or comment. Alternatively, to remove the
misuse flag from a message click **Misuse Reported** or the red flag icon.
===============
Block Users
......@@ -268,22 +408,21 @@ For a student who continues to misuse the course discussions, you can unenroll t
.. _Close_discussions:
******************************
Close Discussions to New Posts
Close Discussions
******************************
You can close the discussions for your course so that students cannot add posts.
Course discussions can be closed temporarily, such as during an exam period, or
permanently, such as when a course ends.
You can close the discussions for your course so that students cannot add
messages. Course discussions can be closed temporarily, such as during an exam
period, or permanently, such as when a course ends.
When you close the discussions for a course, all of the discussion components in
course units, and all of the discussion categories on the **Discussion** page,
are affected.
When you close the discussions for a course, all of the discussion topics in
course units and all of the course-wide topics are affected.
* Existing discussion contributions remain available for review.
* Students cannot add posts, respond to posts, or comment on responses. However,
students can continue to vote on existing posts, report posts for misuse, and
follow posts.
* Students cannot add posts, respond to posts, or comment on responses.
However, students can continue to vote on existing threads, follow threads,
or report messages for misuse.
* Course Staff, Instructors, Discussion Admins, Discussion Moderators,
and Discussion Community TAs are not affected when you close the discussions
......@@ -302,16 +441,24 @@ and time in Studio. You enter the values in this format:
where:
* The dates and times that you enter are in the Universal Coordinated (UTC) time
zone, not in your local time zone.
* The dates and times that you enter are in the Universal Coordinated (UTC)
time zone, not in your local time zone.
* You enter an actual letter **T** between the numeric date and time values.
* The first date and time indicate when you want course discussions to close.
* The second date and time indicate when you want course discussions to reopen.
If you do not want the discussions to reopen, enter a date that is far in the
* If you do not want the discussions to reopen, enter a date that is far in the
future.
* Quotation marks enclose each date-time value.
* A comma and a space separate the start date-time from the end date-time.
* Square brackets enclose the start-end value pair.
* You can supply more than one complete start and end value pair. A comma and a
space separate each pair.
......@@ -324,24 +471,25 @@ You enter these values between an additional pair of square brackets which are
supplied for you in Studio.
============================================
Define When Discussions Are Closed to Posts
Define When Discussions Are Closed
============================================
To define when discussions are closed to new posts, and when they reopen:
To define when discussions are closed to new contributions and when they
reopen:
#. Open your course in Studio.
#. Select **Settings** > **Advanced Settings**.
#. Select **Settings**, then **Advanced Settings**.
#. Scroll down to the **Policy Key** for **discussion_blackouts**.
#. Scroll down to the **Discussion Blackout Dates** policy key.
#. In the **Policy Value** field, place your cursor between the supplied square
#. In the field for the value, place your cursor between the supplied square
brackets. Use the required date format specification to enter the start and
end dates for each time period during which you want discussions to be
closed to new posts.
closed.
When you enter the dates and times from the example above, the **Policy
Value** field looks like this:
When you enter the dates and times from the example above, the value field
looks like this:
.. image:: ../Images/Discussion_blackout_unformatted.png
:alt: Policy value of [["2014-07-22T08:00", "2014-07-25T18:00"],
......
Markdown is supported
0% or
You are about to add 0 people to the discussion. Proceed with caution.
Finish editing this message first!
Please register or to comment