The new user interface includes a number of alerts that help you — and your students — find everything that's new in your topics.



ON YOUR HOME PAGE


Click any image to enlarge.


ON THE MAIN DISCUSSION PAGE


INSIDE A TOPIC




 
GRID VIEW

POSTS are not marked as "Read" until you click on them.

Click any image to enlarge.

 
COMMENTS are considered "read" when you scroll them into view.

 
LIST VIEW

 POSTS are considered "read" when you scroll them into view.

 
COMMENTS must first be expanded (for an individual post or for all posts).

 

Comments are considered "read" when you scroll them into view.



Sometimes a student will ask you a question that you can’t answer right away.

You need to go and do some research before you’re able to give a satisfactory answer. But when you come back to your Discussion, you notice that now you have no new posts or comments: all your messages have been marked as "read."

How can you find the student's question again? Here's a simple strategy:  


1. Post a quick comment

First, as soon as you see the question, post a quick comment back to the student, letting him know that you need to do some research before answering—and that you’ll get back to him as soon as you can.

 

2. Flag the post

Then flag the post. Note that even if the student's question is in a comment, that comment is part of a larger post — and it is the post that gets the flag.

Click any image to enlarge.

 
PLEASE NOTE: If you're using the List View, you will need to expand a post to see the flagging tool.

 
3. Sort for flagged posts

When you've got the answer and are ready to respond to the student, sort the posts by "Flagged," to find the one you're looking for.

 
PLEASE NOTE: If you're using the List View, you will need to expand a post to see its flag.


Learn more

Finding new comments – and old ones (from my Inbox, #9)