Group discussions create separate discussion spaces for groups of students. This can make conversations more manageable and provide students with greater opportunities to participate, particularly in larger courses.

Encourage student-to-student interaction by asking students to respond to their classmates. Rather than simply requiring a certain number of replies, consider giving students a specific purpose for their responses, such as asking a question, making a connection, providing feedback, or considering an alternative perspective.

Use availability dates to clearly communicate when discussions open and close and give students sufficient time to participate in the conversation.

Students use the discussion space to seek feedback, suggestions, or ideas from classmates.

In Canvas: Ask students to post a question, challenge, idea, or work in progress. Classmates respond with questions, suggestions, resources, or feedback.

Example: Students share a challenge they encountered while completing a project and receive suggestions for possible next steps from their peers.

Students explore different portions of a larger topic and then share their expertise with classmates.

In Canvas: Assign students different readings, resources, topics, or concepts. Students share key findings in a Canvas Discussion and then make connections across their classmates' contributions. Canvas Groups can also be used to create smaller discussion spaces.

Example: Students review different readings related to the same topic and post key findings so the class can develop a broader understanding of the subject.

Students approach the same question or scenario from different assigned perspectives.

In Canvas: Assign students a role, stakeholder, or perspective and ask them to respond to a common discussion prompt from that point of view. Students can then respond to classmates representing different perspectives.

Example: Students analyze the same professional scenario from different stakeholder perspectives and discuss how their priorities or responses may differ.

Students take greater responsibility for generating questions and facilitating the conversation.

In Canvas: Assign a student or small group to develop a question based on course materials. The student facilitator can respond to classmates, ask follow-up questions, make connections, and summarize key themes.

Example: A student develops an application question based on the week's readings and facilitates the resulting Canvas Discussion.