Discussions

Top Hat Discussions let students engage in graded or anonymous class conversations, share ideas, and respond to prompts in class or as homework. This guide explains how to participate in a Top Hat Discussion, post replies, earn participation points, and navigate anonymous discussion settings.

Whether assigned through the Course Work tab or presented live in class, Discussions offer a space for thoughtful responses and allow instructors to foster deeper classroom engagement, even on sensitive topics.

Table of Contents

1. What is a Top Hat Discussion?
2. Posting in Discussions
3. Anonymous Discussions

What is a Top Hat Discussion?

A Discussion is created by the course professor to engage with students through talking and exchanging ideas. Discussions can be:

• Graded or Ungraded: Depending on how your professor configures the item.
• Assigned or Live: They may be assigned as Homework (Course Work) or presented live in class (Classroom).
• Identified or Anonymous: Some Discussions may be anonymous to facilitate open conversations around sensitive or controversial subject areas.

Character Limit: All discussion responses have a 5,000-character limit.

Posting in Discussions

If the Discussion is graded, submitting a direct Reply is the only way to ensure participation points are awarded. Enter your reply in the main text box and select Post.

Important Note: Posting a comment on another student's post will not earn you participation points. You must reply directly to the main discussion prompt.

Anonymous Discussions

Anonymous discussions function exactly like regular discussions, with two main differences:

• Students cannot be identified by their peers or the professor.
• Grades cannot be awarded because responses are completely de-identified.