---
description: >-
  Discussion assignment allow you to discuss topics with your instructor or
  other students and grade student responses to discussion topics. You can also
  set late assignment parameters.
---

# Discussion Assignment

You are here: [My Training](../../..) > [Instructor](../..) > [Assignment Types]() > Discussion Assignment



## The Discussion Assignment Type

<figure><img src="https://4166026515-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FWkUUsnoCFHCrXLAM3d7e%2Fuploads%2FGhEO7le8gIpHpGCS0XoK%2Finstructor_discussion.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c989b661-7537-43a3-8527-367957465654" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The following table provides explanation for the user inputs that are required for the various sections and fields to manage discussion assignment.

| Section                                                            | Field                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Action or Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Discussion Assignment Details**</mark> | <p>In the title field, type the assignment title, as it is a mandatory field.</p><p>Note:</p><p>In the <strong>Discussion Assignment Description</strong> section, click the <img src="https://www.nexportcampus.com/Content/Guides/aweb/Content/Resources/Images/Common_Screens_Icons/Template_Properties.png" alt=""> icon. The <strong>Assignment Template Reference</strong> page is displayed. Select the required <a href="http://velocity.apache.org/engine/1.6/user-guide.html">Velocity Template Language (VTL)</a> property and copy-paste it in the Rich Text Editor area. If you place the name of a field after a $, it is replaced with the information that field represents. For example, ‘Welcome to $OrganizationName’ changes to ‘Welcome to NexPort’, if the organization name is 'NexPort'.</p><p>For more information about adding content and applying formatting to the content in the Rich Text Editor area, see <a href="https://www.nexportcampus.com/Content/Guides/aweb/Content/Get_Started/Use_the_Rich_Text_Editor.htm">Use the Rich Text Editor</a>.</p> |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Date Available**</mark>                | In the **Date Available** box, enter the available assignment date and time in MM/DD/YYYY, HH:MM format with time zone. By default, the current date appears as the available assignment date. You can select the current date or any future date as an available assignment date.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Lock Out Hours**</mark>                | In the **Lock Out Hours** box, enter a specific number (in hours) to lock out the period an assignment for the student.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Discussion Topic Options**</mark>      | **Topic**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | <p>In the Rich Text Editor area, type a topic name for the discussion assignment. You can also click <strong>Add Topic</strong> to add additional topics to the assignment. These topics are what  students can write a reply to in the Classroom.</p><p>Note:</p><p>The topic title is a mandatory field.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Grading**</mark>                       | **Mastery Score**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | <p>Type a numerical value to set the mastery score. The mastery score indicates the minimum score to pass the Courseware assignment. For example, type a mastery score of 70 to indicate a 70 per cent is the passing mark for the Courseware assignment.</p><p>If you do not define a mastery score, NexPort Campus automatically calculates the points scored, but marks the student's Test assignment attempt as completed.</p><p>Note:</p><p>This is a mandatory field.</p>                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Max Score**</mark>                     | <p>The maximum score that the discussion assignment returns. The max score value is used to calculate a normalized score for the assignment.</p><p>Note:</p><p>This is a mandatory field.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Grading Strategy**</mark>              | <p>Determines whether a grade must be given by the Instructor, NexPort automatically assigns a grade or no grade is recorded.</p><p>Note:</p><p>If ‘No Grade’ is selected for an assignment then the score is displayed as -/- in the Gradebook view for those assignments.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Weight**</mark>                        | Used to calculate the final section score, this is the relative weight to give this assignment in relation to the other assignment weights within the section.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Pacing Duration (Hours)**</mark>       | <p>Virtual hours that can be used to control the percentage complete that is calculated in NexPort. If all assignments are set to 1 then the pacing is set across the assignments.</p><p>Note:</p><p>This is a mandatory field.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Late Assignment**</mark>               | **Late Assignment Strategy**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | <p>In the <strong>Late Assignment Strategy</strong> list, enter one of the following:</p><ul><li><strong>FailAfterDueDate:</strong> If selected then the assignment is marked as failed as soon as the assignment due date is passed.</li><li>or</li><li><strong>ApplyPenalty:</strong> If selected, NexPort subtracts the number of points from a late assignment.</li><li>or</li><li><strong>TakeNoAction (default):</strong> If selected, the student is not penalized for passing the assignment due date.</li></ul> |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Late Assignment Penalty**</mark>       | <p>In the <strong>Last Assignment Penalty</strong> box, type the points to subtract if the assignment is not complete by the due date. This only applies if the <strong>Apply Penalty</strong> option is selected.</p><p>Note:</p><p>This is a mandatory field.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Due Date**</mark>                      | <p>In the <strong>Due Date</strong> box, enter due date and time of the assignment in MM/DD/YYYY, HH:MM format with time zone. By default, the current date appears as the due date. You can select the current date or any future date as a due date.</p><p>In Gradebook, the student’s assignment is marked as late, if the student completes the assignment after the due date.</p><p>Note:</p><p>The <strong>Due Date</strong> box is enabled, when you enter FailAfterDueDate in the <strong>Late Assignment Strategy</strong> list.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <mark style="color:blue;">**Supplemental Assignment**</mark>       | When an assignment is marked as supplemental, it will be hidden to students **unless** you assign it to them. This can be useful when an assignment should only be assigned as needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | **Note: Marking an assignment as supplemental is a&#x20;**_**permanent**_**&#x20;change.**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
