WebCT Help

Using the Discussion Tool in WebCT

Click on the Discussion icon in your WebCT course (you may have to click Communication Tools first). You should see a number of Topics, and you may be assigned by your instructor into certain group topics.

Click on a Topic name to enter the discussion area. To read a posted discussion message, click once on the Subject. To read another message, either close the one you have just read and click on another Subject, or use the Next/Previous buttons (they look like little envelopes with arrows, just under the Reply button).

Some users find that setting the Display to All/Unthreaded makes it easier to read the discussion postings. You can see which view you like better by clicking the All/Unread and Threaded/Unthreaded buttons.

To respond to a posting, click Reply, type your response, and click Post. Clicking on the Reply Privately button will send your message only to the person who posted the message. Otherwise, all replies can be read by all students in the class or group.

To post a new discussion message, click Compose, enter a Subject, and type or paste your message. The message will be posted to the entire class or group. NOTE: If your discussion postings are to be lengthy and/or graded, it is a good idea to type your postings in your word processor and then copy and paste into the discussion message. This way, if your message does not post because of a computer or internet error, you can simply open the message in your word processor and copy and paste again. To do this, type your message in your word processor. Select the text by dragging the cursor through it or (on PCs) clicking Ctrl A on your keyboard. Copy the text (Edit - Copy, Control C, various other methods). Go back to your discussion message and click in the Message area, and then hit Ctrl V, or right-click and select Paste. Your text will be pasted into the message area. Make sure you have entered a subject, and post your message.

To attach a file to a discussion message, click Compose or Reply. Click Browse and find your file on your computer. Select the file and click Open or OK. The filename should appear in the Browse window. Click Attach File. The filename should now appear below the Browse window. Post your message.

If you have been assigned to a specific discussion group but you are unable to access the group topic area, contact your instructor.