Create Groups in Canvas

Last updated on September 27, 2023

Canvas makes it easy to create small and large groups of students for projects, assignments, discussions and more! Groups can also increase student to student interactivity and engagement in your online course.

Directions

1. Go to MSU Denver’s Faculty and Staff Hub.
2. Click Canvas in the Teaching & Learning section.
3. Log in to your Canvas Account.
4. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
5. Click People in the navigation menu on the left side of the page.
6. Click the + Group Set button.
7. Give your new group set a Title (e.g. Presentation Groups).

To Automatically Assign Self Sign-Up

1. Do not select Allow Self Sign-up.
2. In the Group Structure  section, select from one of the following settings:
   • Select Split students bynumber of groups.
     • Select the Number of groups you would like to have.
       • Note: Students will be split as evenly as possible among the number of groups chosen. 
   • Select a Split number of students per group.
     • Select the Number of students you would like to have in each group.
       • Note: This option allows you to specify how many students are in each group and Canvas will automatically create as many groups as needed. 
3. If needed, select Automatically assign a student group leader.
   • Choose either Set First Student to Join as Group Leader (whoever joins the group first will be the leader) or Set a Random Student as Group Leader.
4. Click Save.

To Create Groups and Allow Self Sign-Up

1. Select Allow Self Sign-up.
2. In the Group Structure section, select from one of the following settings:
3. Select Create groups now.
   • Select the Number of groups you would like to have. Leave this selection blank if you wish to create groups manually later on.
4. Select a Limit group members to (leave blank for no limit)
   •  Select the Number of students you would like to allow in each group. This is the maximum number of students groups will allow. 
5. If needed, select Automatically assign a student group leader.
   • Choose either Set First Student to Join as Group Leader (whoever joins the group first will be the leader) or Set a Random Student as Group Leader.
6. Click Save.

To Create Groups Manually without Student Self-Sign Ups

1. Do not select Allow Self-Sign Up.
2. In the Group Structure section, select Create groups later 
3. Click Save.
4. Select + Group.
5. Type a Title for the Group (e.g. Group A).
6. Select a Number in the Group membership limit field. Leave the Number blank if you would like to have no limit to the number of students in each group.
   • Note: If you enter a number for the Group membership limit, the number must be greater than 1. 
7. Click Save.
8. Drag and drop Students’ Names into their appropriate groups or click the + Icon next to each student’s name under the Unassigned Students list.