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Conversations

What if you have questions about some of the course content?

If your instructor enabled class conversations for some individual content items, you can discuss the content with your instructor and classmates. You can ask for help, share sources, or answer questions others have. As the conversation develops, it appears only with the relevant content. Conversations don't appear on the discussions page.

Your instructor can enable conversations for these content items:

  • Documents

  • Assignments

  • Group assignments

  • Tests

  • Group tests

  • Offline submissions

  • External content, such as an ebook

Access conversations

When someone contributes to a conversation, an icon appears next to the item's title on the Course Content page. Open the item's menu and select Conversation to view the conversation.

Note

The menu and Conversation only appear if your instructor enabled class conversations for the item.

The title of the item Guest Speaker Review with a purple icon highlighted and the item's menu highlighted showing the conversation op

Or, select the Open class conversation icon in the upper-right corner of an item's panel or layer. A purple circle appears with the icon to indicate new activity.

The Assignment Content on the left, the Details & Information pane on the right, and the Open Class Conversation icon with a purple circle highlighted in the top right corner

Conversations layer

Conversations are set up the same as discussions. Two levels of replies are allowed for each first-level response.

  • What do you want to say? Add a response or reply to a classmate or your instructor. You can use the options in the editor to format text, attach files, and embed multimedia. Visit the previous link to see an expanded view of the editor options and detailed instructions.

    If you view the editor on a smaller screen, select the plus icon to view the menu of options. You'll find the option to attach a file.

    Tip

    To use your keyboard to jump to the editor toolbar, press ALT + F10. On a Mac, press Fn + ALT + F10. Use the arrow keys to select an option, such as a numbered list.

  • Save a draft. You can start a response, save it as a draft, and finish it later by selecting Save Draft.

  • What's new? New responses and replies appear with a New icon.

  • Delete contributions. Select the trash can icon to delete your own responses, but you can't make edits. Replies to your deleted responses remain. If necessary, your instructor can remove anyone's responses.

  • View activity and search for participants. View the list of participants and their activity, and search for a specific participant, in the Participants panel.

  • Refresh your view. Check for new activity since you opened the conversation by selecting the refresh in the top right corner.

Example: Save a draft

Saved drafts appear with a border and a Draft badge so you can easily locate them. Open the menu and select Edit or Delete.

A draft response with the menu highlighted, showing the Edit and Delete options

Group conversations

You can view and participate in the conversations for your group or the class. Select the group title to access the menu and make a selection. A purple circle indicates new activity.

You can search for a specific group or course member based on your selection in the menu.

The Conversations panel, showing My Group with a purple icon next to it indicated with an arrow. Find Group Member is highlighted on the Group Members pane.