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Desire2Learn 8.3

Working with Groups

Using groups can help instructors organize course tasks. Once groups have been created, an instructor can assign different topics or other tasks to each group. This document covers the following topics:

return to topUnderstanding Categories

In order to create a group, it must be a part of a category. Categories organize groups and specify the type of enrollment for the groups within the category: automatic, manual, or self-enrollment. If students will be in the same groups for all collaborative course work during the semester, you could use just one category. However, if you want to organize the groups by the project they will be working on, you can create categories corresponding to the projects. These are only two examples (illustrated here) of how categories can be used to organize groups.
Example: Two uses of categories

Enrollment

When you create a group category, you will specify an enrollment style and let Desire2Learn automatically enroll students, manually enroll students in each group, or allow students to choose groups by using the self-enroll option.

NOTE: Instructors are automatically added to groups and, to avoid access problems, should not be removed.

return to topAccessing the Manage Groups Pane

In order to begin creating groups, you must first access the Manage Groups pane.

  1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click GROUPS
    The Manage Groups pane appears.
    Manage Groups pane

return to top

Creating Groups

Creating groups starts with creating the category they will be organized under then selecting the type of enrollment.

  1. Access the Manage Groups pane

  2. Click NEW CATEGORY
    The New Category pane appears.
    New Category pane

  3. In the Category Name text box, type the desired name
    HINT: This name describes the category, not the individual groups.

  4. In the Description scroll box, type a description of the category

  5. From the Enrollment Type pull-down menu, specify how users will be enrolled in the group
    EXAMPLE: Select # of Groups - i.e. there are x groups.

    Automatic Enroll Option Description
    Groups of # - i.e. each group has at most x people You specify the maximum number of students per group and Desire2Learn automatically creates the appropriate number of groups to accommodate this.
    # of Groups - i.e. there are x groups You specify the number of groups to be added and Desire2Learn automatically assigns an equal number of students to each group.
    # of Groups - No Auto Enrollments You specify the number of groups to be added. Desire2Learn will not automatically assign an equal number of students to each group.
    Groups of # - Self Enrollment You specify the maximum number of students per group and the students enroll themselves in their desired group.
    # of Groups - Self Enrollment You specify the number of groups to be added and the students enroll themselves in their desired group.

  6. In the Number of Groups/Users text box, type the desired number corresponding to your selected enrollment style from step 5
    EXAMPLE: To indicate 4 groups, type 4.

  7. In the Additional Options section, click EXPAND THE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

  8. Select the desired Create Workspace option(s)

    Setup Discussion Areas
    Allows you to create a discussion area for each group.

    Setup Locker
    Allows you to setup a locker area for each group.

    Setup Dropbox
    Allows you to setup a dropbox folder for each group.

  9. Click CREATE

Creating Additional Groups

Once the group category and initial groups have been created, you may need to add extra groups.

  1. For the category that you want to add a group to, click CREATE NEW GROUPCreate New Group button
    The Add Group dialog box appears.
    Add Group dialog box

  2. In the Group Name text box, type the desired name for the group
    HINT: The group name could reflect which students are in the group (e.g., Students A-L) or the associated assignment.

  3. OPTIONAL: In the Description scroll box, type a description for the group

  4. Click ADD
    The additional group is created.
    The Manage Groups pane appears.

return to topManually Enrolling Students in Groups

After the groups have been created, you are ready to enroll students.

  1. In the desired category's row, click ENROLL USERSEnroll Users button
    The Enroll Users pane appears.

  2. From the Display pull-down menu, select the desired groups to be available
    HINT: If you have a large number of groups and select All Groups, you will have to do a large amount of scrolling. It is recommended that you display only the groups in which you will be enrolling students.

  3. From the Per Page pull-down menu, select the number of students to be displayed per page
    RECOMMENDED: Select 50 in order to avoid navigating between multiple pages of students.

  4. In the column for the group, select the students to be added
    HINT: Students are selected if a checkmark appears in their corresponding checkbox.
    NOTE: Instructors are automatically added to groups and, to avoid access problems, should not be removed.

  5. Click SAVE
    The Enroll Users pane appears.

  6. Repeat steps 1,4, and 5 until all students are enrolled

return to topEditing Groups or Group Categories

Once a group or category has been created, you may make changes. Desire2Learn allows you to edit the details of groups or categories as well as change which students are enrolled in them.

Editing Groups or Categories: Details

  1. Access the Manage Groups pane

  2. From the View Categories pull-down menu, select the desired category
    The Manage Groups pane appears.
    Manage Groups pane

  3. Click the category or group name whose details you wish to change
    The Edit Group or Edit Category pane appears.

  4. Make the desired changes

  5. Click SAVE
    The group details are edited.
    The Edit Category pane appears.

return to topChanging Group Enrollment

  1. Access the Manage Groups pane

  2. For the desired category, click ENROLL USERSEnroll Users button
    The Enroll Users pane appears.

  3. Select or deselect users for each group as appropriate
    HINTS:
    Users are selected if a checkmark appears next to their names.
    Selection indicates enrollment in that group.
    NOTE: Instructors are automatically added to groups and, to avoid access problems, should not be removed.

  4. Click SAVE
    The group enrollment is edited.
    The Enroll Users pane appears.

return to top Deleting Groups or Group Categories

If you no longer have need for a group or group type, you can easily delete it from your Desire2Learn course.

Deleting Categories

  1. Access the Manage Groups pane

  2. From the View Categories pull-down list, select the group category that contains the group you want to delete
    The category and its corresponding groups are displayed.

  3. Select the group category
    NOTES:
    The category and all groups are selected.
    An item is selected when a checkmark appears next to it.

  4. Click DELETEDelete button
    A confirmation pane appears.

  5. Click DELETE GROUPS/CATEGORIES
    The group category and all its groups are deleted.

Deleting Groups

  1. Access the Manage Groups pane

  2. From the View Categories pull-down list, select the group category that contains the group you want to delete
    The category and its corresponding groups are displayed.

  3. Select the group to be deleted
    HINT: A group is selected if a checkmark appears before it.

  4. Click DELETE
    A confirmation dialog box appears.

  5. Click DELETE GROUPS/CATEGORIES
    The group is deleted.

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