canvas-discussion-facilitator

What this skill does

# Canvas Discussion Facilitator

Facilitate discussion forum activity in Canvas LMS -- browse topics, read posts, reply to students, create new discussions, and monitor participation. Works for both students and educators.

## Prerequisites

- **Canvas MCP server** must be running and connected to the agent's MCP client.
- The authenticated user can have **any Canvas role** (student, TA, or instructor). Tool access is governed by Canvas API permissions.
- **FERPA compliance** (educators): Set `ENABLE_DATA_ANONYMIZATION=true` in the Canvas MCP server environment to anonymize student names in output.

## Steps

### 1. Identify the Course

Ask the user which course to work with. Accept a course code, Canvas ID, or ask them to pick from a list.

If the user does not specify, use `list_courses` to show active courses and prompt:

> Which course should I look at discussions for?

### 2. Browse Discussion Topics

Call the MCP tool `list_discussion_topics` with the course identifier to retrieve all discussion forums.

**Parameters:**
- `course_identifier` -- course code or Canvas ID
- `include_announcements` -- set to `false` (default) to see only discussions, or `true` to include announcements

**Data to surface per topic:**
- Topic ID and title
- Author name
- Posted date
- Number of entries (if available)
- Whether the topic is pinned or locked

Present the list so the user can pick a topic to drill into.

### 3. View Posts in a Discussion

Once the user selects a topic, call `list_discussion_entries` to retrieve posts.

**Parameters:**
- `course_identifier` -- course code or Canvas ID
- `topic_id` -- the selected discussion topic ID
- `include_full_content` -- set to `true` to see complete post bodies
- `include_replies` -- set to `true` to see threaded replies

**Data to surface per entry:**
- Author name
- Posted date
- Message content (or preview)
- Number of replies
- Entry ID (needed for replying)

### 4. Read a Specific Post in Full

If a post is truncated or the user wants the complete text, call `get_discussion_entry_details`.

**Parameters:**
- `course_identifier` -- course code or Canvas ID
- `topic_id` -- the discussion topic ID
- `entry_id` -- the specific entry ID
- `include_replies` -- set to `true` to also fetch all replies to this entry

Present the full post content along with any replies, timestamps, and author information.

### 5. Reply to a Post

When the user wants to respond to a specific post, call `reply_to_discussion_entry`.

**Parameters:**
- `course_identifier` -- course code or Canvas ID
- `topic_id` -- the discussion topic ID
- `entry_id` -- the entry being replied to
- `message` -- the reply content (HTML is supported)

**Before sending, always:**
1. Show the draft reply to the user for confirmation
2. Reference the original post so the user can verify context
3. Only send after explicit approval

### 6. Post a New Top-Level Entry

When the user wants to add a new post to an existing discussion (not a reply), call `post_discussion_entry`.

**Parameters:**
- `course_identifier` -- course code or Canvas ID
- `topic_id` -- the discussion topic ID
- `message` -- the post content (HTML is supported)

Show the draft to the user and confirm before posting.

### 7. Create a New Discussion Topic

When the user needs an entirely new discussion forum, call `create_discussion_topic`.

**Parameters:**
- `course_identifier` -- course code or Canvas ID
- `title` -- the discussion title
- `message` -- the opening post / prompt for the discussion
- `delayed_post_at` -- (optional) ISO 8601 datetime to schedule the discussion to appear later
- `lock_at` -- (optional) ISO 8601 datetime to automatically lock the discussion
- `require_initial_post` -- set to `true` if students must post before seeing classmates' responses
- `pinned` -- set to `true` to pin the topic to the top of the discussion list

Confirm the title, content, and any scheduling options with the user before creating.

## Educator Use Cases

### Monitor Participation

1. Call `list_discussion_topics` to get all discussion forums in the course.
2. For each topic, call `list_discussion_entries` to retrieve all posts.
3. Cross-reference posters against the class roster (use `list_users` or `list_submissions` to get enrolled students).
4. Identify students who have not posted in any active discussion.

Present participation as a summary:

```
## Discussion Participation: [Course Name]

### Topic: "Week 5 Reading Response" (due Mar 3)
- **Posted:** 28 / 32 students (88%)
- **Not posted:** Student_a1b2c3d, Student_e4f5g6h, Student_i7j8k9l, Student_m0n1o2p

### Topic: "Case Study Analysis" (due Mar 5)
- **Posted:** 15 / 32 students (47%)
- **Not posted:** [17 students listed]

### Students Missing Multiple Discussions
- Student_a1b2c3d -- missing 2 discussions
- Student_e4f5g6h -- missing 2 discussions
```

### Send Reminders About Participation

After identifying non-participants, offer to:

1. **Post an announcement** using `create_announcement` with a general reminder about discussion deadlines.
2. **Message specific students** using `send_conversation` to contact students who are behind on participation.

### Draft Thoughtful Replies

When an educator wants to reply to student posts:

1. Read the full post with `get_discussion_entry_details` (include replies for context).
2. Draft a reply that acknowledges the student's points, asks follow-up questions, or connects ideas to course material.
3. Show the draft for educator review and revision before calling `reply_to_discussion_entry`.

## Student Use Cases

### Browse and Catch Up on Discussions

1. Call `list_discussion_topics` to see all active discussions.
2. Call `list_discussion_entries` with `include_full_content=true` to read posts.
3. Summarize key themes or arguments across posts to help the student catch up quickly.

### Reply to Classmates

1. Read the target post with `get_discussion_entry_details`.
2. Help the student draft a reply that engages substantively with the original post.
3. Confirm and send via `reply_to_discussion_entry`.

### Post a New Entry

1. Review existing posts with `list_discussion_entries` to avoid duplicating points already made.
2. Help the student draft a post that adds a distinct perspective or builds on the conversation.
3. Confirm and send via `post_discussion_entry`.

## MCP Tools Used

| Tool | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `list_courses` | Find the target course |
| `list_discussion_topics` | Browse all discussion forums in a course |
| `list_discussion_entries` | View posts within a discussion topic |
| `get_discussion_entry_details` | Read a single post with full content and replies |
| `get_discussion_topic_details` | Get metadata about a discussion topic |
| `reply_to_discussion_entry` | Reply to an existing post |
| `post_discussion_entry` | Add a new top-level post to a discussion |
| `create_discussion_topic` | Create a new discussion forum |
| `create_announcement` | Post a course announcement (educator) |
| `send_conversation` | Message specific students through Canvas (educator) |
| `list_users` | Get enrolled students for participation tracking (educator) |

## Best Practices

- **Read before replying.** Always read the full post and its replies before drafting a response. This avoids repeating points and shows engagement with the conversation.
- **Check for existing similar posts.** Before posting a new entry, scan existing posts to avoid duplicating what others have already said. Build on or respectfully challenge existing arguments instead.
- **Reference specific points.** When replying, quote or paraphrase specific parts of the original post. This makes the reply more substantive and shows careful reading.
- **Confirm before sending.** Always show draft content to the user for approval before calling any write tool (`reply_to_discussion_entry`, `post_discussion_entry`, `create_discussion_topic`, `create_announcement`).
- **Respect discussion settings.** Some discussions r