The discussion feature in Canvas doesn’t accommodate a true discussion forum with varied discussion assignment threads, but there is a way to make it feel more like the kinds of discussion forums you are used to.

1. Create your discussion topic assignments.
2. Create a page with the instructions, readings, etc. for the discussion threads you want to include in the forum. Add the discussion topic assignments you want to include as links at the bottom of the page.
   
    
3. Go back to the discussion topics and add a hyperlink back to the Discussion Forum page. 
   
    
4. Add the page to the unit module.
   

Further resources:

• How do I create a discussion as an instructor?
• How do I edit or delete a discussion in a course?
• How do I create a group discussion in a course?
• How do I assign a graded discussion to a course group?
• How do I delay posting a discussion until a specified date in a course?
• How do I allow students to attach files to a course discussion?