Groups allow smaller numbers of students to collaborate on course work. Only members of the group and the faculty can see the group.

Group Types

There are two types of group creation options:

• Single Group - create one group at a time.
• Group Set - create multiple groups with same settings and titles (which can be changed later).

Group Enrollment

There are three types of Group Enrollment to choose from:

• Manual Enroll - allows you to assign each student to a group
• Random Enroll - automatically distributes students based on number of students in each group or based on number of groups. This is only available in group sets.
• Self-Enroll - allows the student to select the group for themselves.

Create a Single Group

1. From the Control Panel, click on Users and Groups, then click Groups.
2. Click Create, then under "Single Group," select Self-Enroll or Manual Enroll.
3. Type in a group name and optional description.
4. Make sure the group is visible to students. Select Yes. Students will see their assigned group and tools below the left navigation.
5. Select the tools that you wish for your students to access. 
6. Enrollment Choices
   • Self-enroll:
     • "Sign-up Options" - Type in a name for the sign-up sheet and provide instructions.
     • "Maximum Number of Members" - Type in the maximum number of students that you wish to sign up for this group. Once the maximum number of students have signed up, the group will no longer accept additional members. Students must then select a different group.  This option prevents group membership from being unbalanced.
     • "Create smart view for this group" - Check this box if you wish a smart view to be added to the Grade Center for this group. 
       NOTE: Students cannot unenroll themselves from "self-enroll" groups. Instructors in the course must make that adjustment.
       
       OR
       
   • Manual-enroll:
     • "Create smart view for this group" - Check this box if you wish a smart view to be added to the Grade Center for this group.
     • "Membership" - Click the Add Users button. Check the box to the left of each student's name to be added to this group. Click the Submit button when you have selected all the students.
7. Click Submit at the bottom of the page.

Create a Group Set

1. From the Control Panel, click on Users and Groups, then click Groups.
2. Click Create, then under "Group Set," select Random Enroll, Self-Enroll, or Manual Enroll.
3. Type in a group name and optional description. This group name will be copied to all the groups with a number. For example, if you select the name "Team" the groups will be named "Team 1," "Team 2," etc. Note: The Group Set name cannot be edited once you click submit on the Create Group Set page. The group set description and individual group names can be edited. 
4. Make sure the group is visible to students. Select Yes. Students will see their assigned group and tools below the left navigation.
5. Select the tools that you wish for your students to access.
6. Enrollment Options
   • Random enroll:
     • "Membership" - Determine the number of groups by the number of students per group or by the number of groups. 
       For example, if you have 5 topics you would select "Number of groups" = 5. A course with 20 students would have 4 students in each group.  If you have one topic and you want no more than 3 students in a group, "Number of Students per Group" would be 3. A course with 20 students would have 7 groups (6 groups with 3 and one group with 2).
       Determine how to enroll any remaining members: Select the option for remaining members.
   • Self-enroll:
     • "Sign-up Options" - Type in a name for the sign-up sheet and provide instructions. 
       "Maximum Number of Members" - Type in the maximum number of students that you wish to sign up for this group. Once the maximum number of students has signed up, the group will no longer accept additional members. Students must then select a different group.  This option prevents group membership from being unbalanced.
       "Number of Groups" - designate how many groups will be created.
       "Create smart view for this group" - Check this box if you wish a smart view to be added to the Grade Center for this group.
       NOTE: Students cannot unenroll themselves from "self-enroll" groups. Instructors in the course must make that adjustment. 
   • Manual-enroll:
     • "Number of Groups" - designate how many groups will be created. 
       "Create smart view for this group" - Check this box if you wish a smart view to be added to the Grade Center for this group.
       You will be able to assign students on the next screen after clicking Submit at the bottom of the page. 
7. Click Submit at the bottom of the page.

How to Identify Individual Groups from Group Sets