How to assess and provide feedback on discussions

Introduction

You can assess learners' participation in discussion topics from within threads for topics to which you've added an assessment. In the Assess Post pop-up, you can view the post you are assessing, along with any attached rubrics and fields to add in personal feedback.

If your topic is moderated, you must approve posts before you can assess them. To assess individual posts, you must edit the topic to enable the Allow assessment of individual posts check box in the Assessment tab.

Environment

An internet-connected device with a web browser (Edge, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari).

Instructions

1. On the navigation bar, click Communications > Discuss.
   
    
2. On the Discussions List page, click the topic you want to assess.
   
    
3. Depending on your view settings, do one of the following:
   
   • In the Reading view, instructors can assess an individual learner while viewing all of a learner's posts together on one screen. Click the context menu beside a thread name and select Assess Topic(see image above). Note: the Assess Topic selection only appears if the discussion is attached to a grade item.
   • Then click on a student’s name to view all posts made by the student and the assignment rubric, if one is attached to the assignment. (see images below).
     
     
     
     
     
      
4. In the pop-up dialog box, do any of the following:
   • If the assessment of individual posts is enabled and you are in Reading View, enter a score in the Score column beside each post you want to assess. If the assessment of individual posts is enabled and you are in Grid View, add the assessment in the Post Score field.
   • Complete each rubric, choosing a level and entering feedback for each criterion. The Total calculates automatically based on the rubric criteria, or you can manually enter the Total and override the calculation. Note that the calculated or chosen Total is automatically populated in the Topic Score field. To return the Topic Score to the calculated score from the rubric, click Clear Override.
   • In the General Feedback field, enter feedback comments.
     
      
5. Click Save Draft to retain the assessment results and publish them at a later time. Click Publish to immediately release the results to the student.

Additional Resources

Grade a Discussion from your Grade book

How to grade a discussion topic

How to assess from within a thread