Teaching Commons > Teaching Guides > Technology > Desire2Learn > Tools > Discussions > Setting Dates for Discussions

Setting Dates for Discussions in D2L

Discussions have three options for setting date restrictions: availability, locking, and hidden. 

  • Availability: Adding Start and End Dates in this section affects the ability for students to see the discussion.  Students will see that the discussion exists, but they will not see posts or prompts for discussions outside of the date window set.
  • Locking: Adding Start and End Dates in this section will restrict students from adding threads or replies to a discussion outside of the date window set.  Students can see the prompt and any threads posted during the window in a read-only state.
  • Hidden: Adding Start and End Dates in this section will restrict students from seeing the discussion in its entirety. Students will not see the calendar event or any notifications until the Start Date.

Note: Start and End Dates can be added to discussion forums or topics.  If date restrictions are added  to a forum, they will be applied to all of the topics within that forum.

Add Availability Date Restrictions

  1. Select Discussions. 
  2. The "Discussions List" page will open. Select the dropdown arrow next to the forum or topic to be date restricted.
  3. Select Edit Forum or Edit Topic, depending on which is being edited. 
  4. A page with settings will open with the "Properties" tab displayed. Select Restrictions.
    • To add a Start Date, select the Has Start Date checkbox, then select the radio button for "Available: Visible with access restricted before start." Enter a Start Date and time for the discussion.
    • To add an End Date, select the Has End Date checkbox, then select the radio button for "Available: Visible with access restricted before end." Enter an End Date and time for the discussion.
  5. Select the Display in Calendar checkbox to display the Start and/or End Dates in the course calendar (See Calendar for more information).
  6. Select Save and Close.

Add Locking Date Restrictions

  1. Select Discussions. 
  2. The "Discussions List" page will open. Select the dropdown arrow next to the forum or topic to be date restricted.
  3. Select Edit Forum or Edit Topic, depending on which is being edited. 
  4. A page with settings will open with the "Properties" tab displayed. Select Restrictions.
    • To add a Start Date, select the Has Start Date checkbox, then select the radio button for "Locked: Visible with submission restricted before start." Enter a Start Date and time for the discussion.
    • To add an End Date, select the Has End Date checkbox, then select the radio button for "Locked: Visible with submission restricted after end." Enter an End Date and time for the discussion.
  5. Select the Display in Calendar checkbox to display the Start and/or End Dates in the course calendar (See Calendar for more information).
  6. Select Save and Close.

Add Hidden Date Restrictions

  1. Select Discussions. 
  2. The "Discussions List" page will open. Select the dropdown arrow next to the forum or topic to be date restricted.
  3. Select Edit Forum or Edit Topic, depending on which is being edited. 
  4. A page with settings will open with the "Properties" tab displayed. Select Restrictions.
    • To add a Start Date, select the Has Start Date checkbox, then select the radio button for "Hidden: Hidden before start." Enter a Start Date and time for the discussion.
    • To add an End Date, select the Has End Date checkbox, then select the radio button for "Hidden: Hidden after end." Enter an End Date and time for the discussion.
  5. Select the Display in Calendar checkbox to display the Start and/or End dates in the course calendar (See Calendar for more information).
  6. Select Save and Close.

    Note: If a discussion forum or topic is Hidden, it will not appear in the course calendar until the set Start Date.

NEXT STEPS

To learn more about adding threads and posting replies view P​articipating in Discussions.