Brightspace Content is Getting Upgraded
Beginning with the Fall 2027 semester, Brightspace courses will default to the New Content Experience. Additionally, Instructors now have the ability to enable or disable the New Content Experience in their own courses ahead of the change in Fall 2027. For more information about this transition, see our New Content Experience Transition page.
Beginning in May 2023, a new interface for creating and editing discussion topics is available.聽Check out our guide on this new interface聽to learn more!
Discussions can be set up for the entire class, or they can be restricted into smaller groups. If your class is divided into groups, discussions can be a great way for them to plan, communicate, and share ideas. You can also create a Discussion that is restricted to course Sections (01, 02, etc.) if you have a multi-section course.
Note: Once a Discussion Topic has been created, you聽cannot聽change it from an open topic to a group topic (or vice versa).
There are two ways to create group discussions. One is with the Discussion tool, and the other is when you are creating your groups. This guide will help with both methods.
- Make Group Discussions with the Discussion Tool聽鈥� when Groups are already created
- Make Group Discussions when you initially create a Group
Updated Fall 2023
Make Group Discussions with the Discussion Tool
In order to use this method, you must have already created groups.聽Use this guide to learn how to create groups.聽You also must have created a group聽Forum. If you鈥檙e not familiar with the Discussions tool, it will be helpful to visit our guide on聽Understanding the Discussion Tool.
1. Start creating your group discussion by going to the Discussion聽tool (Activities & Assessments听-&驳迟;听Discussions). Click on聽New聽and select聽Topic.
2. Give your discussion topic a Title听补苍诲听Description. This will be visible to all groups.
3. After you enter a Topic Title, either create a new Forum or choose one you鈥檝e already created by clicking Change Forum.
4. Next, click Availability Dates & Conditions,聽then click聽Manage Restrictions聽under Group and Section Restrictions
5. On this Group and Section Restrictions screen, you should click Restrict topic and separate the threads.聽Then under the聽Group Category or Section, select the Group or Section of your course that you want to use for this discussion.聽
6. Click Add聽to apply your Group or Section Restriction, and then be sure to click聽Save and Close聽when you are finished to save your Discussion Topic.