Order Discussion Posts from Newest to Oldest

[canvas_admin]

Currently, the discussion posts are ordered from oldest to newest.  A student/professor has to scroll or go to the last page and then scroll to get to the latest post.

Canvas REALLY needs to re-order this so that newest discussion posts appear at the top of the first page so that it is easy to find current conversations.

This topic had 100+ likes in the old community and I was really surprised not to see it on here already (I searched for this using several different search terms).   I sure hope we don't have to go through and re-idea every single feature request that had at least 30 likes and was years old with no action or response from Instructure.

This idea has been developed and deployed to Canvas

For more information, please read through the  Canvas Release Notes (2021-06-19).

[esommer]

What a terrific idea! For an instructor to be able to pin a new post to the top for the exact reason you indicate. I'm always worried when I make a correction because I'm not sure students will see it--so I sometimes resort to making an announcement as well.

I continue to agree with everyone that Canvas is sorely lacking in improving a key resource that optimizes online learning and helps students and instructors communicate. Time to update this resource!

[barnold]

This is such a basic functionality it is hard to believe it isn't there yet!  Needs to be done ASAP.

[barnold]

Yes, agreed. I was surprised to see it not considered (or wasn't put in at the beginning) because it pretty much an industry standared - available in almost every application out there and it makes it really difficult to grade and for students to read if they have to always scroll. Seems like a "no brainer" so I would like to hear from the development committee why they aren't considering it. I wonder if there is something especially complicated about the code that would allow it.

Becca Arnold

Professor of Economics and Sustainability

San Diego Mesa College

[kseemann]

I have like most Canvas teachers, a large class of posted replies to a discussion.  Replies I have to go through and grade.  Its a huge tedious job with large enrolment numbers. But its made so much worse as a teacher, if each time I grade I have to scroll, scroll, scroll, and ....scroll scroll scroll until I see a posted reply not yet graded.

Its would be perfect if Canvas could add a tiny SORT recent to last for posted replies so the most recent appears at the top of the reply list.

It could be even more awesome if Canvas added a "filter" on posted replies for 1) not yet graded, and 2) no teacher replies.  This way, I can set the two filters on ((1) not yet graded, and 2) no teacher replies.), and sort them with most recent to top of the reply list.  Thus making my assessments of blog soooooooooooo much more efficient and more enjoyable.

[barnold]

I am surprised this even needs a vote - that it wasn't always available - and to find out it was considered awhile ago but not implemented is even more surprising. It's such a common functionality and the need is so clear. With out the ability to sort of create threads within a discussion board it's nearly impossible for students or teachers to navigate through.

Becca Arnold

Professor of Economics and Sustainability

San Diego Mesa College

[edward-gillan]

How is it possible that this question was raised 5 years ago and such a basic functionality is not part of an otherwise messy long discussion board?  With the COVID online instruction forced upon us, it is clear that Canvas functionality must improve much more quickly to adapt to current needs.  Scrolling to the bottom of a discussion board to answer a new student question is not only backwards as the default, but it is not helpful for the student.  The only alternative I can see is to create weekly discussion boards and not use topic specific boards.

[esaunders2]

I concur. A button choosing how they should display would be best!

[jeffrey_weimer]

I dare say that, after five years, something else is now even more frustrating.

Suppose that I want to reply to a student's question. Suppose that I want to include a link to a Module or File or Assignment as a reference. Suppose that the discussion list is long. So long, that the links are now well beyond immediate access ... way up at the top of the discussion thread. I CANNOT SELECT THE LINK directly. I have to scroll all the way back to the top of the discussion list to select the link that I want.

The approach that restricts discussion threads to a chronological list has absolutely become one of the worst ways that I can imagine as a way for instructors to respond efficiently to questions that students post. At least on Discourse (which follows the same chronological thread ordering), I can answer a post question *while I scroll through the discussion list viewing it in the panel above*.

In a fit of frustration, I would be inclined to encourage Canvas to give up the fight and contract out their Discussion forums to the Discourse API. We'd get a discussion-moderating tool that has proven itself to work efficiently and that has been adapted in a significant number of places (i.e. would be fully familiar to instructors and students alike). The biggest benefit is, we would have it right now.

[esommer]

I can't agree more with everyone on this thread who wants Discussion Boards available with options for sorting newest to oldest or reverse.

ESPECIALLY as the Canvas producers likely have just found themselves with a significant new client base as education goes online during this pandemic.

PLEASE, Canvas developers, make this happen! And you all cannot figure it out, then please consult with some experts from Google or Microsoft to help you accomplish this important function! #Discussion Boards order

[dtheriault]

I have created a pinned "Help Desk" in my Canvas course. It makes perfect sense that the newest requests would be seen at the top. Please please please allow us the OPTION to sort discussion replies by oldest or newest first. Please. 

 @clonghb ‌ #discussion board group‌