Use Groups in Canvas

Last updated on October 19, 2021

A great way to get peer-to-peer interaction in a course is by grouping up students for collaborative activities. Some of these activities could include projects, assignments, discussions, and peer review (not using the Peer Review feature of an assignment).

Regardless of the activity, instructors will need to create groups for their students, which can be done in Canvas from three different tools: People, Assignments, and Discussions. The video below will highlight Assignments and Discussions.

For a detailed tutorial on creating groups in the People tab please view the “Create Groups in Canvas” tutorial.

Best practices

• Assign Roles: Structuring groups using helps maintain accountability and participation of each member
• Scaffold group projects over time (separate due dates for incremental milestones)
• Set clear expectations using instructions, a rubric, or both
• Use group evaluation forms to monitor collaboration

Let’s walk through it together

Create Groups from an Assignment

1. Open an assignment using one of the methods below:
   • Edit an existing assignment.
   • Create a new assignment. 
2. Check the box next to This is a group assignment.
3. Type a Group Set name (this name will be assigned with a number to each group created).
   • You may need to click New Group Category if you have existing groups but would like to create new ones.
4. Adjust self sign-up settings as needed or skip to step 5.
5. Select one of the three group structure options:
   • Split students into a specified number of groups.
     1. Enter the number of groups in the text box.
   • Split students into groups with a specified number of students in each group.
     1. Enter the number of students per group in the text box.
   • Create groups manually.
6. Click Save.
7. Check the box to Assign Grades to Each Student Individually if necessary.
8. Click Save.

Create Groups from a Discussion

1. Open a discussion using one of the methods below:
   • Edit an existing discussion.
   • Create a new discussion. 
2. Check the box next to This is a group discussion.
3. Type a Group Set name (this name will be assigned with a number to each group created).
   • You may need to click New Group Category if you have existing groups but would like to create new ones.
4. Adjust self sign-up settings as needed or skip to step 5.
5. Select one of the three group structure options:
   • Split students into a specified number of groups.
     • Enter the number of groups in the text box.
   • Split students into groups with a specified number of students in each group.
     • Enter the number of students per group in the text box.
   • Create groups manually.
6. Click Save.
7. Click Save.

Visit the Group Homepage

1. Click People on the navigation menu to the left.
2. Click the tab for the group set.
3. Click the three dots icon to the right of the name of the group you’d like to visit.
4. Click Visit Group Homepage.
   • From here, you can view announcements, discussions, pages, etc. that are available or assigned to this group.
5. Click Switch Group to view another group’s homepage, or click the name of the course in the upper left to go back to the whole course.

Have questions?

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