Canvas - Creating Groups

Instructors can use Canvas Groups to split a class's students into smaller groups for discussions and assignments. Groups are created in group sets, which can be selected while creating group assignments and group discussions. Students can be assigned to groups automatically, manually, or via self-sign up. Each group gets its own group home page where students can work together with Pages, Discussions, Files, and Collaborations. This article is a collection of technical guides intended to help instructors use Groups in their Canvas courses.

Video Overview: What Are Groups?

00:07: What are groups? 00:09: Instructors can create groups for students to collaborate on group assignments Pages, 00:13: collaborations and more. Instructors can also allow 00:17: students to create their own groups within groups instructors. 00:22: Can view all activity within all the groups within their course, including 00:26: groups created by students as noted in the instructor's, student groups tab by 00:30: default, students will be allowed to create their own groups. 00:33: As noted in the course, details tab view all created groups 00:37: within the course, manually or automatically create groups within a group, 00:41: set manually or automatically assign students to groups, within a 00:45: group set. A sign group leaders to each group, allow students 00:49: to sign up for their own groups. Expand and collapse, subgroups move 00:54: students into different subgroups and create group collaborations. 01:00: As an instructor create groups to Set up student group 01:04: configurations at the course level for assignments and in-class work. 01:07: Both graded and ungraded, facilitate semester long projects, 01:12: so that students can communicate and iterate on documents together. 01:15: Facilitate faculty, professional development and institutional committees 01:19: or activities, facilitate student-run study groups within courses 01:24: or at the account level. 01:26: Students can use groups as a collaborative tool to work with classmates on group 01:30: projects and assignments. Within groups students can 01:34: View the group's list view the groups their enrolled in join 01:39: a student group, create a student group store and share files, 01:43: start a discussion, send a message and create 01:47: group collaborations. 01:50: As a student, create groups to Create study groups collaborate 01:55: on projects and assignments. 01:58: This guide covered how to use groups as a student.

Video Source: What are Groups? (Canvas Basics Guide)

Selected How-to Resources (Canvas Instructor Guides)

Full Canvas Instructor Guides Index

Creating Group Sets and Groups

• How do I view all groups in a course?
• How do I add a group set in a course?
• How do I automatically create groups in a group set?
• How do I manually create groups in a group set?

Assigning Students to Groups

• How do I automatically assign students to groups?
• How do I manually assign students to groups?
• How do I move a student into a different group?
• How do I assign a student leader to a group?

Using Self Sign-Up Groups

• How do I create self sign-up groups in a group set?
• How do students join self sign-up groups? (Canvas Student Guide)
• How do I message students who have not signed up for a self sign-up group?
• How do I prevent students from switching groups in self sign-up groups?

Assigning Group Work

• How do I create a group discussion in a course?
• How do I create and assign a graded group discussion?
• How do I assign an assignment to a course group? NOTE: In group assignments, each group makes one joint submission to the assignment.
• How do I view content and student activity within a group?

Getting Help

Canvas support is available 24 hours a day! Access Canvas support options by clicking the Help button in the Global Navigation Menu located along the left edge of any page in Canvas. The Help menu contains options for contacting Canvas support via live chat, phone, and email. For more information on contacting Canvas support, please see Canvas - Contacting 24/7 Canvas Support.