Add Start and End Dates and Availability on a Discussion Topic

1. Whether you are creating a new discussion topic and setting dates, or adding dates to an existing discussion topic, navigate to Submissions, then click Discussions
   
   
2. Either select to edit an existing discussion topic, or click "New Topic" 
   
   
3. From the Discussion Settings page, click the Restrictions tab
    
   
   
4. To add a start date, click the checkbox next to Has Start Date
   
   
5. Once this box is selected, you can choose from the following three availability settings for before the start date

Start Date Availability Options:

 a. Students can see the discussion in course content and its start date, but cannot click to view the full prompt or post. 

b. Students can view in course content, click the discussion topic title to read the full prompt, but cannot post to the topic.

c. Topic is fully hidden from students in course content and under the submission review tab before the start date (not advisable)

End Date Availability Options:

a. Students can see the discussion in course content and its end date, but cannot click to view the full prompt or post to it. 

b. Students can view in course content, click the discussion topic title to read the full prompt, but cannot post to the topic.

c. Topic is fully hidden from students in course content and under the submission review tab after the end date (not advisable)\

Step-by-Step: Set Dates from Course Content

1. Click Course Content on the Navbar
   
   
2. Locate the module the discussion topic is in. 
   
   
3. Click the down arrow to the right of the discussion title, then click edit properties in place
   
   
4. Once the properties opens, click Add dates and restrictions
   
   
5. Click Add Start Date
   
   
   
6. Enter a Start Date and time
   
   
   
7. The default availability setting is visible with access restricted. If you would like to change that setting, click the blue linked words under the start date. Review the tables above to see the difference between the three availability options.
   
   
   
8. Once you click the linked blue words, a pop up window will open where you can set the availability options and also the end date/end date availability options.
   
   
   
9. Click Save when dates are set.
   
   
10. Click UPDATE after dates are set to keep changes.