Enable markdown in comments to allow learners to format their contributions in a richer way than standard plain text. 

Videos and images are not enabled to share in comments, due to moderation concerns.

Example - sharing code  

• Learners on a coding course can share lines of code to perform a range of functions. Learners can ‘like’ the most effective and filter comments according to the most popular comments. This creates space for experimentation and comparison.
• Ambitious courses prompt learners to start a dialogue using code. Each learner arriving at the comments adds a new line of code, or slightly adapts it to perform a different function.
• Learners on a science-based course can share scientific notation. They can try applying formulae in a comment, and peers can offer feedback.  

Example - sharing web research 

• Markdown allows learners to add in-text links without using as many of the 1200 characters available per comment. This is useful for investigative steps, where learners are encouraged to research online. They can share relevant websites with a brief summary. 

Example -  listing and ranking 

Particularly useful for language courses - learners can use markdown to format comments to: 

• Listing ideas numerically
• Rank items
• Group ideas 
• Highlight or emphasise text using italics or bold text

Switch on markdown in comments 

• Organisation admin permission is required
• In Course Creator select ‘manage course’ 
• Select ‘edit course information’ in the upper right above the course image. 
• Scroll down the page and tick ‘support markdown in comments’ 

If the course is in progress previous learner comments will remain in plain text. Consider explaining in the text within the step how to use this feature in the step. 

When learners go to leave a new comment they will see a pink instruction stating ‘Learn more about markdown’. This link navigates to: How to use markdown in comments

Screenshots

The tick box in Course Creator to switch on this feature:

Link provided to learners: 

Terminology on this page that you aren’t familiar with? Check out our glossary. 

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