Now that you have successfully created your first Discussion Board Forum, you are ready to add individual Topics to the forum which will allow students to post comments and ask questions.

For the purpose of this lesson you will be shown how to create a new Topic in the Forum you just created. You can then apply your knowledge toward adding the remaining four Topics to the General Questions Forum.

There are two ways to add a Topic to a Forum:

1. Add the Topic directly beneath the Forum into which you want to add a Topic
2. Click New Topic from the link listing at the top of the Forums & Topics List page

For the purpose of this lesson we will create a new Topic by the first method.

Adding a new Topic to an existing Forum is like an animal's return checkup at the hospital. To add a new Topic to an existing Forum, click the Double Bubble () icon to the far right of the Forums & Topics List page. This icon will be on the same line as the forum you wish to edit.

After clicking the Double Bubble () icon you will see the existing Forum - General Questions, is already selected as the Forum to which we will add the new Topic.

The remaining steps to adding a Topic are the same as those for adding a Forum.

Let's review one more time!

1. Enter a Title for this Topic.
2. Remember the Description you entered for the original Forum denoting that the Forum was for comments regarding the structure of the course, Carmen, assignments and grading. You may want to include a modified description similar in text to the original Forum description.
   • Don't forget to include text regarding the frequency of faculty member replies.

Note: Items with a red asterisk () are required items.

3. Check the Allow anonymous messages ^and/_or Messages must be approved before being displayed check boxes if you wish to enable those features for the Topic.

Note: Forums and Topics may have different settings for anonymous messages and message approval.

4. Include Availability and Locking Options if you wish to enforce those options for this Topic.

Note: Forums and Topics may have different settings for availability and locking options.

5. Select the Restrictions tab if you wish to include additional release conditions for this Topic.

Note: Forums and Topics may have different settings for release restriction conditions.

For more information on availability, locking and restrictions, go back and review this information under Forum Availability and Locking Options and Forum Restrictions.

Be sure to Save your Topic when you have finished entering your options. If you want to add additional Topics to this Forum click Save and New to begin adding an additional Topic to this Forum.

• Save will leave you on the screen where you just created the Topic for your Forum. This option assumes you will remain on this topic to add Restrictions or return to the top of the screen to create a new Forum. 
• Save and New will leave you on the screen and allow you to enter a title for a new Topic in the same Forum.