Discussion & Messages Overview
Creating Class Discussions
Via Classes > Discussions
You can access the Create Discussion button under the Discussion tab of your class.
- Using the Enhanced Text Editor, you can add lists, images, videos, files, tables, change text styles and switch between left to right and right to left text directions. Click the + icon for additional options.
- Selecting Notify via e-mail will send out e-mails, which will contain the message, to the class members (students and teachers) or parents.
- Selecting Private Discussion will create a discussion that is visible only to other teachers. Students will not be able to view these discussions. Selecting both options, Notify via e-mail and Private Discussion, will create a private discussion and only teachers in the current class will receive an e-mail notification.
Via Discussions or Quick Add > Create Discussion
Add Topic, Category, Body, Link Media or Files, Configure Notification & Permission settings
Replying to Discussions
To create a reply first click <-- Comment or Open Discussion. This will bring up a text box that will allow you to enter your comment, including adding images, files or audio recording.
React to existing comments with Emojis (Thumbs Up, Heart etc), or Edit / Delete comments as an Admin. Private comments can be created by enabling the checkbox. Private comments will only be visible to other teachers. Once your comment is complete, click Comment to post it.
Click << Comment or Open Discussion
Enter your Body, and Click Comment
Replying to Threaded Comments
In addition to replying to the original discussion post creator, users are able to reply to comments added from other users in the thread. Click Open Discussion, and select <<- Reply to add a reply to a particular response to the main thread. Type in the box and click Add Reply to post.
Click<< Reply, enter your body, then Add Reply
Private Discussions
There are two types of private discussions:
- Discussions and comments that are created by teachers and are only visible to other teachers.
- Discussions and comments that are created by students and are visible to other teachers but also to the student.
Private Discussions posted by students & teachers are only visible to teachers and are not visible to other students. Private replies left on a discussion will only be visible to teachers & not to other students.
If a Student posts a private comment, this private comment will now be visible to teachers. When a teacher responds to it the reply will also be visible only to the student. This approach allows students to create private communication threads with their teachers.
Tick Private Discussion for Posts, or Private Comment on Replies
Posts will appear with the Private Discussion label
Student View of Discussions
Students are only able to post discussions to their assigned year group, classes or groups. Please see an example of the student view below.
- Students can Create Discussions, starting new topics
- Students can Reply to the Author, or respond to threaded replies
- Students can add Private Comments, only visible to Teachers
- Students can optionally choose to send a notification through to E-mail
Create Discussion > Student View
Discussion Thread > Student View
Uploading Class Files
Via Classes > Files
You can upload any files you want students to have easy access to under the Files tab.
You can upload a file for your class by clicking Upload File on the right-hand navigation panel. If your school has enabled Google Drive Integration, you can upload files directly from your drive via Add From GDrive.
Finally, you can also create a category-specific folder by clicking Add Folder.
To add existing files to the folder, drag and drop them on top of the folder icon.
When uploading files via Upload File, you can assign a category, as well as a folder. You can also notify students via email that there is a new file. Click Upload Files once done.
To import existing files or folders from this subject to your class, click Add Resources. For more details, see Adding & Managing Tasks in the Adding Tasks from Resource Bank section
Note: Only you, the teacher, can upload files for the class. Students can only view and download the files when they access the Files tab.
G-Upload Files
You can choose to select files directly from Google Drive via the G Upload button.
A new window will pop up. Select the Google account you’d like to choose a file from (if more than one is available), and then select 'Allow' when ManageBac asks for permission to view the files in your Google Drive. Once in your Google Drive, you can switch between your own drive and files shared with you. Click on the file you want to upload and then 'Select' at the bottom to import it.
Adding Class Events
Via Classes > Calendar tab
You can add a new Event (e.g. Meeting or Field Trip) to the class’s calendar by clicking Add New Event under the Calendar tab.
Fill in the form to create the Event. You can edit Event categories by clicking Manage Categories on the right-hand navigation panel.
Event Categories can have customised titles and colours.
Multiple Day Events
To add an event over multiple days, ensure the event is listed as All day event, select the number of days from the drop down menu, and then Save Changes.
Differentiation for Events & Deadlines
Class Events and Deadlines can now be assigned to specific students only, similar to Tasks. Open the Calendar within your class and click Add Event/Deadline. Then select the Student Differentiation section when creating new Class Events or Deadlines and pick the students this Calendar entry is assigned to. Year Group Events and Deadlines to follow shortly.
Adding Online Events & Meetings
The same Zoom integration that is allowing for Online Lessons to be created and linked to Zoom is now enabled for Calendar > Events. Add a new Event to the Calendar using the Add Event button to see the updated Event interface with Create Zoom Meeting button. Events differentiated for different students will show and allow only linked students to join the Zoom call.
The location field also supports custom meeting room URLs. If a URL is detected in the location field a “Start” or “Join” button will be shown on the Event tile.
For Events that have corresponding Zoom Meetings MB will automatically make any recordings available in MB. After Zoom processes the cloud recordings, which can take up to an hour, MB will show a Download Recording button to immediately download the recording file and a Play Recording button that will open in a new tab and allow for recording playback.
Note: The recording buttons will be available for as long as the recording is present on Zoom Cloud.