Discussions Redesign: Difficulty Differentiating between Posts and Replies

[cheryltice]

Hello,

I am reaching out on behalf of instructors I support who have been utilizing the updated Discussions interface. Some instructors have expressed difficulty in clearly distinguishing between original posts and replies within discussion threads.

To enhance the user experience and facilitate easier navigation through discussions, I would like to propose the following formatting changes:

1. Increased Indentation: Please consider implementing a more prominent indentation for replies within a thread. This change to the visual hierarchy will make it easier for users to identify the relationship between posts and follow the flow of the conversation.
2. Distinct Formatting: In addition to indentation, applying different formatting to original posts and replies would greatly improve readability. Some suggestions include:
   • Using different background colors or shading to visually separate original posts from replies
   • Applying distinct border styles or thicknesses to differentiate between post levels
   • Employing contrasting font styles, sizes, or colors to further distinguish original posts from replies
3. Visual Icons or Labels: Incorporating visual icons or labels to clearly mark original posts and replies could provide an intuitive way for users to identify the structure of the discussion at a glance.

Thank you for your consideration,

Cheryl

[NAshcraft]

I have also noticed that replies at the end of one thread blend in with the initial post of the next thread.  I would like to see a border between each thread so that you can easily see where one thread ends and the next one begins.

[cheryltice]

Yes, @NAshcraft! I'm also noticing students don't dig into each other's replies so the conversations are very limited.

[NAshcraft]

It's an issue of cognitive load.  If learners have to expend a lot of mental energy navigating the discussion board to open posts and read them, they don't have as much energy left to engage with the ideas and write meaningful posts.

[cheryltice]

💯

[rlbrown21]

if students have to "work" to engage, they just don't engage.   Discussions are already one of students least favorite things to do , lets not make it more work!  canvas - look at Harmonize for ideas.....

[jcrozier2]

Yes!  It needs the border.  !!  YES!

[jcrozier2]

We need the lines around the posts.  So we can see the whole threaded discussions.

But the default also has to be expanded view for all- if I expand - my students have to click that themselves... that does not allow for skimming the board for key terms and solutions for their work.  If I provide feedback to one student - I do not repeat myself.  I want them to see the other posts and you are making them work hard by clicking on each individual reply.

It is very very hard to see between posts but also hard to just see ENTIRE threads.

Expanded board - has to be the default (yep I am repeating).

[cheryltice]

@jcrozier2, the more we repeat the needed updates, the better, in my opinion. I'm still trying to figure out how the updated interface is superior to the legacy version. I'm finding less participation than previously.

One or two posts get all the attention because no one wants to dig into them. That's a real issue that could be addressed by expanding all discussion threads by default and offering the option to collapse them for those who prefer it.

The ability to maintain settings set by the instructor is a must.

[jcrozier2]

I agree - there will be less willingness to go looking for.  And I ask them to skim all my replies to their classmates but they can't - the expanded version does not really stay open even for me.  I find it so hard to find my own comments.

It does not seem these designers are teachers.

This design feels very disconnected from reality of using the discussions as a learning tool and not a one time post without interaction with each other.

[rlbrown21]

agreed, many of our faculty are thinking about dumping discussions in the fall entirely.

[audra_agnelly]

Yikes! Is this accessible? There's zero visual differentiation between a post, a reply, and the subsequent post. I'm looking at a very brief discussion with just a handful of participants and it's nearly impossible to identify replies. We need a line break, a border, or more significant indentations. This conversations in this post for example use clear indentations, and "in response to" label to help us understand the thread, but none of that organizational structure is used in the newly enforced Discussions Redesign. 

 

[muneeb_mobashar]

Agreed. Also, why is the font so much smaller on replies. Its causing issues for some of our hard of sight students and instructors.

[cmuir]

I posted an Idea called "[Discussions] Show threading of posts in discussions" because of this issue.