Participating in Discussions

Create a Thread

1. Log in to Brightspace with your MyCarletonOne credentials.
2. On the Brightspace homepage, locate your course in one of the following ways:
   • • Click on the course tile under the My Courses widget.
     • Click the Course Selector Grid  and select the course from the drop-down menu. If you are enrolled in more than 20 courses, you can search for the course name using the search bar.
3. In the navbar, click Tools.
4. In the drop-down menu, select Discussions.
5. Click the discussion topic where you want to create a thread.
6. Click Start a New Thread.
7. Enter a subject.
8. Enter your content in the HTML Text Editor.
9. Set any of the following posting options:
   • To keep the thread at the top of the list, select the Pin Thread checkbox.
   • To post anonymously, select Post as Anonymous.
   • To receive updates on the thread using your selected notification method, select Subscribe to this thread.
   • To attach a file, in the Attachments area, click Browse to locate the file that you want to attach.
   • To attach an audio recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Audio > Record. To make adjustments to your microphone selection and volume, click Flash Settings. To listen to your recording, click Play. To erase your recording, click Clear. If you have prerecorded audio and are using a supported browser, you can drag audio files onto the attachments upload target.
   • To attach a video recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Video > Allow > Record. When you finish recording, click Stop. To erase your recording, click Clear. To add the recording, click Add. If you have pre-recorded video and are using a supported browser, you can drag video files onto the attachments upload target.
   • To post your thread to more than one topic, click Post to other topics. Click Add Topics. Select the topics that you want your thread to appear in. To post in every topic simultaneously, select the Select All check box and then click Add Topics.
10. Click Post.

You have now create a thread that other course participants can reply to.

Reply to a Thread

1. Log in to Brightspace with your MyCarletonOne credentials.
2. On the Brightspace homepage, locate your course in one of the following ways:
   • • Click on the course tile under the My Courses widget.
     • Click the Course Selector Grid  and select the course from the drop-down menu. If you are enrolled in more than 20 courses, you can search for the course name using the search bar.
3. In the navbar, click Tools.
4. In the drop-down menu, select Discussions.
5. Locate the thread you want to reply to.
6. Do either of the following:
   • To reply to the main thread post, click Reply to Thread.
   • To reply to a particular post inside the thread, click Reply.
7. Enter your reply in the HTML Text Editor. To include the original post’s text in your reply, click the Add original post text
8. Set any of the following options:
   • To post anonymously, select Post as Anonymous.
   • To receive updates on the thread using your selected notification method, select Subscribe to this thread.
   • To attach a file, in the Attachments area, click Browse to locate the file you want to attach.
   • To attach an audio recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Audio > Record. If you have pre-recorded audio and are using a supported browser, you can drag audio files onto the attachments upload area.
   • To attach a video recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Video > Allow > Record.  If you have pre-recorded video and are using a supported browser, you can drag video files onto the attachments upload area.
9. Click Post.

You have now replied to a thread within a topic.

Subscribe to a Thread

1. Log in to Brightspace with your MyCarletonOne credentials.
2. On the Brightspace homepage, locate your course in one of the following ways:
   • • Click on the course tile under the My Courses widget.
     • Click the Course Selector Grid  and select the course from the drop-down menu. If you are enrolled in more than 20 courses, you can search for the course name using the search bar.
3. In the navbar, click Tools.
4. In the drop-down menu, select Discussions.
5. Click the drop-down arrow next to the Forum or Discussion Topic that you want to subscribe to.
6. In the drop-down menu, select Subscribe.
7. In the Customize Notifications pop-up window, select one of the following notification methods:
   • Send me an instant notification: Receive an email notification for each post or reply in a thread.
   • Include in my summary of activity: Receive a daily summary of forum or topic posts.
   • Show notifications in minibar only: Receive new post notifications in the menu at the top of your course page.
8. Click Subscribe.

You will see a forum or topic subscribed successfully message. View and manage your subscriptions under the Subscriptions tab.

Use @Mentions in a Discussion Thread

1. Log in to Brightspace with your MyCarletonOne credentials.
2. On the Brightspace homepage, locate your course in one of the following ways:
   • • Click on the course tile under the My Courses widget.
     • Click the Course Selector Grid  and select the course from the drop-down menu. If you are enrolled in more than 20 courses, you can search for the course name using the search bar.
3. In the navbar, click Tools.
4. In the drop-down menu, select Discussions.
5. Locate the discussion thread where you want to tag a user.
6. Enter your reply in the HTML Text Editor.
7. To tag a user, type @ followed by their name (@name). When you start typing their name, a list will automatically appear below the text. 
8. Select the user’s name from the list.
9. The @mention will now display their first and last name.
10. Click Post.

You will see a the @mention appear as a link in the discussion topic and a notification flag will appear in the mentioned user’s mini-navbar. If the user has also enabled email notifications, the user will also receive an email notification.