12.2. Exploring Discussion Posts

Finding out whether someone else has already asked the same question or initiated a conversation about the subject that interests you, and then reading and contributing to that exchange instead of starting a new one, helps make the time that everyone spends with the course discussions more productive. You can search for something specific, or you can browse through the posts in a single discussion topic.

For information about finding new or updated posts in discussions, see Keeping Up with New Activity.

12.2.1. Search Posts

To search for posts, responses, or comments containing a particular keyword or phrase, enter the word or phrase, or a partial word in the Search all posts field at the top of the Discussion page.

Search results are displayed in the discussion navigation pane. If an exact match is not found, search results are shown for a similar value.

You can also enter a username to search for posts added by a specific person. Select the linked username in the search result to show a list of posts made by that person. For more information about viewing contributions from a specific user, see View Contributions from a Specific Participant.

12.2.2. View Discussions about a Specific Topic

Course discussions are organized by discussion topics, which are created by the course team. Anyone who adds a post to the course discussions selects an existing topic to associate their post with. For more information about topics, see Basic Elements: Topics, Posts, Responses, and Comments.

You can browse discussions by topic, to join the discussion on subjects that interest you, or to see if anyone else in the course has asked the same question.

12.2.2.1. View Topics on the Discussion Page

On the Discussion page, you can view both course-wide and content-specific discussions. Select All Topics above the discussion navigation pane to see all of the discussion topics in the course. To see all of the posts in an individual topic, select the topic name in the discussion navigation pane.

Note that course-wide topics do not have other topics indented below them, while content-specific topics are indented under a category name.

Discussion topic list expanded, showing all course discussion topics.

12.2.2.2. View Topics in a Course Unit

Content-specific topics are located in specific units in the course. They typically appear below the content they apply to.

You can access a content-specific topic by viewing the unit that contains the topic. To show the list of posts for that content-specific discussion, select Show Discussion.

A discussion topic that appears below text inside the course. The "Show Discussion" button opens the list of posts for that content-specific topic.

You can also use the Discussion page to access a discussion in the unit where that topic is located.

  1. In the list of topics, select the topic that you want.
  2. Select a post title to open the complete post and its responses and comments next to the above the discussion navigation pane.
  3. In the text of a post, select the name of the discussion topic to go to the discussion inside the unit.

12.2.3. View Only Unread or Unanswered Posts

To limit the posts shown on the Discussion page or shown for a content- specific discussion, you can select one of the filter options. By default, the Show all option is selected.

  • To show posts (both discussions and questions) that you have not yet viewed, select Unread.
  • To show only question posts that do not yet have any responses marked as answers, select Unanswered.

12.2.4. View Pinned Posts

Pinned posts appear at the top of the list of posts in the discussion navigation pane when you view all discussions. Pinned posts can contain important information about the course or any part of the course, such as a particular video or problem. The pinned post can originate from anyone in the course, including other learners or members of the discussion moderation team, but only members of the moderation team can pin a post.

12.2.5. View Followed Posts

In the discussion navigation pane select Posts I’m Following. The navigation pane refreshes to show only posts that you are following.

12.2.6. View Contributions from a Specific Participant

You can review all the posts, responses, and comments that any learner in the course or member of the course team has made. To do this, select the username that appears at the top of any one of the participant’s contributions. You can also enter a username in the Search all posts field and select the linked username in the search result.