Navigating the Discussion Board

This guide will demonstrate how to navigate discussion forums and threads in Blackboard

Accessing the Discussion Board

Image of the course menu with the Discussion Board link highlighted

The course discussion board can be accessed from a link in the course menu. Additionally, links to individual forums can be created in course content areas.

Image of the discussion board with the following items: 1.Click on the Create Forum button to create a new forum2.Forum: This column lists the names of individual discussion forums. To access a forum, click on the forum name.3.Description: A description of the forum is provided here.4.Total Posts: this number shows the total number of posts made in the forum.5.Unread Posts: This number shows the total number of unread posts in the forum. Clicking on this number will allow you to see all unread posts.6.Replies to Me: This number shows the total number of replies to your posts in the forum. Clicking on this number will allow you to see all replies to your posts.7.Total Participants: This number shows the total number of individuals participating in this forum8.Search: Clicking the Search button allows users to search within the discussion board.9.Paging options are available here. You can also navigate between different pages here as well.

After you click on the discussion board view, you will see a screen similar to the one above.

  1. Click on the Create Forum button to create a new forum
  2. Forum: This column lists the names of individual discussion forums. To access a forum, click on the forum name.
  3. Description: A description of the forum is provided here.
  4. Total Posts: this number shows the total number of posts made in the forum.
  5. Unread Posts: This number shows the total number of unread posts in the forum. Clicking on this number will allow you to see all unread posts.
  6. Replies to Me: This number shows the total number of replies to your posts in the forum. Clicking on this number will allow you to see all replies to your posts.
  7. Total Participants: This number shows the total number of individuals participating in this forum
  8. Search: Clicking the Search button allows users to search within the discussion board.
  9. Paging options are available here. You can also navigate between different pages here as well.
Image of a discussion forum showing the following items: 1.Create Thread: Click the Create Thread button to create a new discussion thread within the current forum. It is recommended for instructors to start off discussion by creating their own threads, and then encouraging students to create their own discussion threads to share their ideas.2.Grade Discussion Forum: Click on this button to grade the current discussion forum (if grading has been enabled).3.Subscribe: Click on this button to receive email notifications for new posts.4.Search: Click here to search within the current forum.5.Date: The date the thread was created is shown here.6.Thread: The thread title is shown here.7.Author: The author of the the thread is shown here.8.Status: This column shows the current status of each thread.9.Unread posts: This number shows the number of unread posts in the thread. Clicking on this number allows you to view all unread posts.10.Replies to me: This number shows the number of replies made to your posts. Clicking on this number allows you to view all replies to your posts.11.Total posts: This number shows the total number of posts in each thread.12.Thread actions: These buttons allow users to manage, collect, or delete threads in bulk.13.Paging options are available here. You can also navigate between different page as well

When you click on a link to a forum, you will be taken to the thread listing for that forum. Threads house individual discussions within a discussion forum.

  1. Create Thread: Click the Create Thread button to create a new discussion thread within the current forum. It is recommended for instructors to start off discussion by creating their own threads, and then encouraging students to create their own discussion threads to share their ideas.
  2. Grade Discussion Forum: Click on this button to grade the current discussion forum (if grading has been enabled).
  3. Subscribe: Click on this button to receive email notifications for new posts.
  4. Search: Click here to search within the current forum.
  5. Date: The date the thread was created is shown here.
  6. Thread: The thread title is shown here.
  7. Author: The author of the the thread is shown here.
  8. Status: This column shows the current status of each thread.
  9. Unread posts: This number shows the number of unread posts in the thread. Clicking on this number allows you to view all unread posts.
  10. Replies to me: This number shows the number of replies made to your posts. Clicking on this number allows you to view all replies to your posts.
  11. Total posts: This number shows the total number of posts in each thread.
  12. Thread actions: These buttons allow users to manage, collect, or delete threads in bulk.
  13. Paging options are available here. You can also navigate between different page as well.