Group Discussions

Creating Group Discussions

Option 1: Generate Groups Automatically

If you would like students to be in different groups for each discussion prompt, you will follow these steps for every discussion you create. These steps will have Canvas generate groups automatically. If you prefer, here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots Links to an external site..

  1. Create a discussion prompt by selecting "Discussions" and then "+ Discussion." 
  2. Type in your title and instructions for the discussion prompt
  3. Select "This is a Group Discussion"
  4. Select "New Group Category"
  5. Type in a group name like "Discussion Week 1"
  6. Select either "Split students into xx groups" or "Split students into groups with xx students per group"
  7. Click "Save"
  8. Save and Publish your discussion

Option 2: Generate Groups Manually

If you would like to manually assign students to groups, follow these steps or click here for a step-by-step guide. Links to an external site.This option can be utilized to manually assign students for each discussion, or, you may assign students to groups and reuse those same groups as often as you would like.

  1. Click on the "People" tab in Canvas
  2. Select "Add Group Set"
  3. Give the group set a name, like "Discussion Groups"
  4. For "Group Structure," select "I'll create groups later"
  5. Click "Save"
  6. On the People tab, select "+ Group"
  7. Give the group a name like "Discussion Group 1" and select a limit if you'd like
  8. Click "Save"
  9. Repeat steps 7-8 until you have the desired number of groups
  10. Drag the students into their respective groups or add students to groups by clicking the "+" next to their name and selecting their group
  11. Click on the discussion where you would like to assign groups
  12. Select "This is a Group Discussion"
  13. Select the same of the group set that you created in step 7
  14. Click "Save"
  15. Save and Publish your discussion

NOTE: You can go through this same process for each discussion prompt and select the same group set each time, you can shuffle students in the "People" view at any time to mix up the groups, or you can add new group sets in the "People" tab for different assignments.

The Instructor's View

After you have created your groups, click on your discussion. You will now see a list of clickable groups. By clicking one, you will enter the group discussion space.

NOTE: the navigation buttons will now appear for just that group space. You can switch groups by selecting "Switch Group" or, to navigate back to your main course, select "Courses" in the global navigation and click on your course. 

The Student's View

When students click on the group discussion you have assigned, they will automatically enter the group they have been assigned to and will not be able to see any of the other group discussions.

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