## Discussion: Overview

### What it does

Discussion allows structured conversations that are organized into categories. Site participants can post replies to a topic (a "flat" discussion) or to other replies (a "threaded" discussion). A site's owner can also choose whether or not to allow site participants to post their own discussion topics.

You may view Discussion in a row or column layout. This is a personal preference and changes only your view of the Discussion.

### Key concepts

Categories and topics: Categories are the top level in the Discussion tool. Topics appear under the categories, and replies appear grouped with the appropriate topic.

Deleting: The absence of a trash can icon means that you do not have permission to delete a discussion item. Only site leaders, instructors, or others with special permissions can delete discussion items.

### Things to consider

- When posting a topic, you can limit replies to only the top-level post (i.e., your initial post), or you can allow replies to any posts. If you limit postings, then you create a "flat" discussion. If, on the other hand, you allow replies to any posting, then you create a "threaded" discussion. Threaded discussions are by nature more interactive because users are able to reply to a reply. Flat discussions, in contrast, tend to be more structured and for this reason are more easily controlled.
- Many collaboration sites allow any site participant to start a discussion topic, which facilitates a more collegial discussion environment.
- Some classes use categories like "Homework Questions" and "Exam Review" to structure their Discussion feature. Others create categories for course concepts.
- If you read Discussion threads and completely exit the application, those threads will become unread again. When you return to the Discussion tool later, all messages that you had previously viewed will appear as new.