Ed Discussion provides a platform for students and instructors to interact through threaded discussions. Students can answer one another’s questions, work on and run code together, embed videos, annotate images, and share documents. Instructors can endorse student responses and add their own feedback.
By using Ed Discussion to ask questions instead of emailing your instructor directly, the whole class can benefit from your question. Keep in mind that courses can use Ed Discussion in many different ways, so be sure to check your syllabus for important guidelines from your instructor.
This page is intended for students. Instructors should review Ed Discussion for Instructors.
Accessing Ed Discussion
For courses in Canvas, click Ed Discussion on the left side navigation menu to access the discussion for your course.
If your course is not in Canvas, you can log in to Ed Discussion with the same Penn email address you use for Canvas.
You may also download the Ed Discussion mobile app by following the steps below.
Installing the mobile app
- Navigate to the Ed Discussion mobile page.
- When prompted, log in with the same Penn email you use for Canvas.
- Follow the directions for your device (IOS or Android) to add the mobile app.
- Enable Push Notifications in your settings.
Using Ed Discussion
Getting started
After logging in, we recommend reading the Student Guide to Ed Discussion to learn how to use this tool.
Understanding thread icons
Threads with a blue dot are unread. These are threads that you have not seen.
Threads with a green checkmark are questions that have been resolved. This means that the question has already been answered.
Threads with a purple pin have been pinned. Pinned threads are generally reserved for announcements or important information.
Threads with a blue ribbon have been endorsed by course instructors. This is usually done by instructors to distinguish high-quality content.
Threads with a heart signify agreement. Hearts are private and do not reveal identities. 
Threads with a star are bookmarked to refer back to later. Stars are private to the individual. -
Threads with an eye icon selected are those in which you are subscribed to receive thread activity email notifications. 
Threads with the “S” icon indicate a student has answered a question thread.
Threads with the “I” icon indicate an instructor has answered a question thread.
Conduct in online discussions
Please be polite and respectful while interacting with your peers, TAs, and instructors in Ed Discussion. Note that while you can choose to Post Anonymously, instructors and TAs will still be able to see who created the post.
Below are some general recommendations on how to interact in online discussions to create a welcoming space where everyone can learn. Your syllabus may have more specific guidance.
Online culture
- Tone: Tone is a very important part of online communication. Before posting online, read your message out loud. Ask yourself if you would say this to a colleague or acquaintance in a face-to-face discussion. Avoid sarcasm, which can be hard to interpret online.
- Peer support: Make an effort to understand, respect, and support your fellow students. People have different perspectives, but everyone is here to learn and to learn from each other. Assume the best intentions first when engaging with others.
- Confidentiality: Do not share information about others and their experiences without their expressed permission to do so.
Posting etiquette
- Search before posting (someone may already have posted about this).
- Do not post potential homework answers or code to Ed Discussion publicly (check private).
- Be specific and well defined in your questions, and describe how you tried to solve the problem first.
- Accept any follow-up answers after receiving them by manually clicking on the green check mark.
- Answer time can vary by course. Visit a TA’s office hours if you need an immediate response.
- Tag a category for your post to help others find it.
Additional Resources
Getting Help
For more detailed guides, please log in to Ed Discussion, select your region, and then go to Help with Using Ed Discussion. If you are already logged into your Ed Discussion Dashboard, click on the person icon found in the upper right corner of the screen and click Help.
The Canvas Support team can also assist you with Ed Discussion. Contact us at canvas@pobox.upenn.edu.