Discussion Summarization uses a Generative AI model to provide instructors with summaries of key points, questions, and ideas in a discussion thread.
This feature is designed to save educators time and allow discussions to be used effectively in large-format classes and other environments where they were previously infeasible.
1. You will now see the "Summarize" button at the top of a Discussion that you have created for your class:
2. After students reply to a Discussion post, Instructors can click the Summarize button (starred above), and Canvas will summarize all the key points from student replies using generative AI. This summary will appear in a box below the original Discussion post and is only visible to the instructor.
- #1: Instructors can enter a prompt to request the Summarize tool focus on different aspects of student replies
- #2: To dismiss/disable the summary, Instructors will click the X Disable Summary button and the summary window will close
- #3: Instructors can provide feedback using thumbs up/down as to the quality of the Discussion summary
3. The Discussion Summary never appears to students (even if you select thumbs up). Instructors may share the summary using a Discussion Reply by copying and pasting it into their Discussion reply and editing it as they see fit.
For more information on this new tool in Canvas please see: Feature Preview Overview: Discussion Summaries