Click here for a video demonstration

You can click on the Communications button from the Course screen to access Blackboard's Discussion Board component.

Create the Discussion:

From Control Panel

1. To create a discussion forum, click on the Add Forum button.

2. Enter the forum title in the Title text field, and in the Text Box Editor, enter the forum description and any instructions you want learners to have.

3. In the Forum Settings section, enable the check box next to the options you want learners to have in the forum. You can select all, some, or none of the following settings:

• Allow Anonymous Posts (this option is selected by default)
• Allow Author to Remove Own Posts
• Allow Author to Modify Own Published Posts
• Allow File Attachments
• Allow Members to Create New Threads
• Allow Members to Rate Posts
• Force Moderation of Posts

4. If you want to Grade the forum or threads, enable the Grade Forum or Grade Thread radio button and fill in the number of points in the box.

5. In the User Form Settings area, click the names of the users in your course whom you want to assign as forum moderators. Click the Moderate button.

6. To block users from posting to the discussion forum, click the names of the users you want to block and click the Block button.

7. Click the Submit button.

8. Click OK to return to Control Panel.

Tips:

1. The Modify button on the Discussion Board page allows you to go the Forum Settings page and make changes to both the forum and user settings.
2. Click the Remove button to delete the forum from the Discussion Board area. Removing the forum also deletes any posted message within the forum.
3. Reorder your forums by using the drop-down menu of numbers that's generated automatically with each forum addition.

Begin a New Thread:

1. Usually as the instructor of the course, you should post the first message or thread in the forum. Click the Discussion Board link in the course navigation menu.
2. Click on the title of the forum to enter the discussion.
3. You are now in the message center for the discussion form where messages will be posted. 
4. To create the initial thread, click on the    button.
5. At this point, enter a subject line, message and attach a file if desired. Once done, click the Submit button located at the bottom right of the screen. Post can also be saved to be submitted at a later time.
6. The subject link to your message has now been created. You will also see the name of the message's creator plus the date the message was posted.
7. Click the OK button when done to return to the Discussion Board main page. Your students will now be able to access your message and post their replies.

Tips:

• The title and description of your forum has been created. Should you wish to modify or remove the forum, click either the Modify or Remove button located to the far right of the screen.
• You are also able to Mange participation levels, by clicking on the Manage button and changing a users Forum Role.
• Be sure to include directions in your forum. Alternatively, you can create a new thread that explains to your students how to use the discussion forum.

More on Discussion Boards

Post to Threads

1. Click a forum title to enter the forum.
2. Click the Add New Thread button to post a message.
3. In the Subject text field, type the subject of your message and enter your message in the Message text box. You can attach one file from your computer to your message if the file-attachment option was allowed by clicking the Attach a File link, which then makes the Browse button visible on the same page.
4. Click the Submit Button.

Reply to Message

1. Click the Subject Title link.
2. Click the Reply button.
3. On the Reply Message page, enter your response in the Message Text Box Editor.
4. Click the Submit button.

Collect Posts on One Page for Easy Printing

1. From the Control Panel, click the Discussion Board link.
2. Choose the title of the discussion forum.
3. Click the red arrow (look for it in the middle of your screen, on the grayed-outline between the Name and Date columns) or click the Show Options tab (all the way to the right).
4. To collect all posted message in the forum, click the Select All button.
5. Click the Collect button. All messages are displayed on one page with each message in its distinct gray box.
6. Click OK to return to the forum.

Lock Threads

1. From the Control Panel, click the Discussion Board link.
2. Choose the title of the discussion forum.
3. Click the red arrow (look for it in the middle of your screen, on the grayed-outline between the Name and Date columns) or click the Show Options tab (all the way to the right).
4. Click Select All to select all threads or enable the check box next to each message.
5. Click the Lock button. The Reply button is not longer available for locked messages.

Flag Posts

1. From the Control Panel, click the Discussion Board link.
2. Choose the title of the discussion forum.
3. Click the title of the thread.
4. Click Select All to select all threads or enable the check box next to each message you wish to flag.
5. Click the Red Flag in the bar under the Thread Detail.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Select All to select all threads or enable the check box next to each message you wish to clear the flag.
8. Click the Clear Flag in the bar under the Thread Detail to clear flags
9. Click OK.

Remove Messages from Discussion Forum

1. From the Control Panel, click the Discussion Board link.
2. Choose the title of the discussion forum.
3. Click the red arrow (look for it in the middle of your screen, on the grayed-outline between the Name and Date columns) or click the Show Options tab (all the way to the right).
4. Enable the check box for each message you want to remove.
5. Click the Remove button.
6. Click OK to remove them or click Cancel to keep them.
7. Click OK to continue or click Cancel to abort the process.