Watch the video below to learn how to set up Discussions in Top Hat. Written step-by-step instructions are listed below as well.
1. Access your course. Make sure you are on the "Content" tab from the options along the top.
2. Choose the blue "Create" button in the top left corner of the page. This will open your content options.
3. Choose "Discussion" from the first column to begin creating a discussion forum.
4. Add a title to your discussion forum in the "Title" field. This will help you find your question later.
5. Type your discussion forum question in the "Topic" field.
6. Edit your "Grading Options" to reflect your desired scoring system in "Correctness" and "Participation".
7. Edit the settings for your discussion in the "Response Options" field.
The "Responses can be seen by" field allows you to choose how answers are received.
Selecting "Everyone" will allow all members of the course to see how the discussion was answered.
Selecting "Professor Only" will allow only the instructor to see the completed answers.
The "Participants are anonymous to" field allows you to choose who can see how individuals answered the discussion.
Selecting "No one" will display who said which response.
Selecting "Participants Only" will prohibit students from seeing who said what, but allow the instructor to see student submissions.
Selecting "Everyone" prohibits both students and the instructor from seeing who said what. This cannot be changed after creating the discussion.
The "Allow students to respond with a drawing" field gives students the ability to draw their answer with their devices.
A text box will appear at the bottom of the "Create a Discussion" dialog box explaining how your chosen settings will play out when creating this discussion. Re-read this section to ensure that you have designed the discussion you want to use.
8. Click "Save" in the bottom right corner to save your discussion. You may cancel creating a discussion at any time by clicking "Cancel" or pressing your Esc key on your computer.
9. Drag your discussion into the folder that you want the discussion to appear in.
You may now Preview, Edit, or Delete your discussion as needed in Top Hat.