Working with Groups

SECTION 1: Creating a New Group | SECTION 2: Adding Users to a Group
SECTION 3: Managing Group Functions

SECTION 1: Creating a new Group

1. Login into your course site.
   
2. Click on the Control Panel.
   
3. Under User Management, click on Manage Groups.
   
   
4. Click on Add Group.
   
5. Enter a group name and description. It's good to include individual names in the description so students can quickly identify which group they are in.
   
6. You have 4 options for each group. Depending on the requirements established in your syllabus, you may check Group Discussion Board, Virtual Classroom, File Exchange or Email. Also, click Yes to make the group visible.
   Please note that if you select the Group Discussion Board Function, you need to create at least one forum in each group. See Section 3 for more detailed instructions.
   
   
   

1. Click Submit once all settings have been made on the Add Group page.
   
2. Click OK on the page that indicates the action was successful. Be certain to continue with the steps in Section 2: Adding Users to a Group.

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SECTION 2: Adding Users to a Group

1. Click on the Modify button associated with the group.
   
2. Click on the Add Users to Group link.
   
   
3. Click the Search button to see a roster of your class.
   
4. Check the box next to each student you want in the group.
   
5. Click the Submit button at the lower right of the page.
   
6. Click OK on the page that indicates the action was successful.

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SECTION 3: Managing Group Functions

Discussion Boards | Virtual Classroom | File Exchange | Email

Group Discussion Boards:

If you have chosen to use the Group Discussion Board, you must create at least one discussion forum in each group. To do this:

1. Log into your course site. Click Communication > Group Pages.
   
2. Select the Group to which you want to add the forum.
   
3. Enter the Group Discussion Board.
   
4. Click the Add Forum button toward the top of the page.
   
5. Next, give a title and description for your discussion. If you have a statement or question you want your students to respond directly to, you'll post this as a thread within the forum.
   
6. In the Forum Settings section, check the options you want available. Be sure to check Allow New Threads.
   
7. You can also set permissions for this forum if you want to restrict access or give administrative privileges to students (if you wanted them to "run" the discussion). In most cases, you can leave this section as is.
   
8. Scroll down and click the Submit button at the lower right of the page.

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Collaboration:

This feature operates the same way as the Collaboration Tool for the general classroom, with the exception that only participants in the group can use it. You can choose to either use the Virtual Classroom or the Chat Session function. To do this:

1. Log into your course site and click Communication > Group Pages.
   
2. Select the group to which you want to add the session.
   
3. Select Collaboration.
   
4. Click Add Collaboration Session at the top of the page.
   
5. Name your session. When choosing a name, be sure it is clear and related to the topic that will be discussed.
   
6. Under the Collaboration Tool section, you may choose either Chat or Virtual Classroom.
   
7. Click the Submit button to the lower right of the page.

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File Exchange:

To share files with group members only, follow these steps:

1. Log into your course site and click Communication > Group Pages.
   
2. Select the group with which you want to share a file.
   
3. Select File Exchange.
   
4. Click the Add File button at the top of the page.
   
5. Title your file and click Browse to locate the file you want to share.
   
6. Click the Submit and OK.
   
7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 until all the files have been added.

E-mail:

To send an e-mail to group members only, follow these steps:

1. Log into your course site and click Communication > Group Pages.
   
2. Select the group to which you want to send an e-mail.
   
3. Select Send E-mail.
   
4. Choose the group members to whom you want to send the email by placing a check in the box next to their name.
   
5. Enter a subject and type your message.
   
6. You may add an attachment by clicking the Add button under Add Attachments and selecting to file you want to send.
   
7. Click the Submit button to the lower right of the page. Then click OK to confirm the e-mail was sent.
   Note: A copy of the email will be sent to you.

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