In Progress

Issue: A recent update to Canvas has changed the default settings of discussions to disallow threaded replies. If you use threaded replies, this update may have impacted any recently created discussions in your Fall 2024 Canvas courses. If this setting is not updated, students will not be able to respond to their peers' comments.

Status: A manual override of the setting may be required for discussions in Fall 2024 courses. Spring 2025 classes will be globally fixed via a vendor-supplied solution when course shells are provisioned in the late fall. The global fix could not be applied to Fall 2024 courses as it could potentially impact discussions where an instructor intentionally chose to disallow threaded replies.

Solution: If you are an instructor, instructional designer, or other person responsible for creating discussions, then you should check the settings for your discussions in your current assigned course(s).

• Open a discussion and click the three-dot menu in the top right.
• Select Edit.

Check the options section where it says "Disallow threaded discussions."

• Select (check) that checkbox if you want a flat, non-threaded discussion. This prevents users from responding to other students’ replies and forces them to respond to the main discussion topic.
• Deselect (uncheck) that checkbox if you want a threaded discussion. This allows students to respond to each others’ replies.

If you change the setting, be sure to scroll down and hit Save.

If you have further questions regarding this issue and/or require assistance, please contact us using one of the Support options.