Discussion posts by prof are not expanded?

[DrJB]

I ask my students to read every post I make in the discussions, even if I am responding to a different student - there are half a dozen effective practices baked into how I approach it - but with the update to discussions it appears that every reply (including replies from the prof) is hidden unless expanded?  It also appears this non-expanded view is the default and resets every time a person goes back to a discussion.

1. Is all of this correct?

2. Can the prof override this to get back to how discussions used to thread, ensuring that every post by the professor is available (to students) without an extra click?  I've looked in every setting I can think of but don't see a way to ensure my posts are visible to all students whenever they are on the discussion board.  

Thanks in advance for some help!

[WilliamHirt]

I have had the same question and concern. For me, discussion boards have to be a two-way interaction. The kids can post their ideas, and then we can post our responses. But this "conversation" doesn't happen if half of it is hidden from view. All the previous years, the discussions were an open exchange of ideas and responses. This is ruined by this new type of formatting.

[mangles]

Yep. In essence the summer 2024 Discussion update killed our classroom discussions. Elsewhere in the community we post our pains and hopes for updates such as mentioned. Still waiting for Canvas to provide meaningful info. Some instructors, myself included, are adding our discussion comments to the student's original posting by editing it and using color and bold text to reflect an instructor's comment.

The new Discussion Forums are now just a place for students to submit narrative assignments. Not to hold meaningful discussions.

My college is looking for an external resource. Check out this review list from Washington U in St Louis.

---

---