Groups

Groups in eLearn are used to design special work areas where learners can discuss, share, and submit work as a group.

This 4-minute video demonstrates using groups in eLearn:

Create a Group

  1. Click on Communication in the eLearn navbar.
  2. From the drop-down list, choose Groups.
  3. On the Manage Groups page, click New Category.
  4. Enter a Category Name and Description.
  5. Select an Enrollment Type from the drop-down list.
  6. Depending on the chosen Enrollment Type, enter the Number of Groups to create, the Number of Users per group, or both.
  7. To apply a distinctive prefix to each group name and code in the category, enter it in the Group Prefix field. If you do not fill in this field, the prefix defaults to "Group".
  8. Depending on the chosen Enrollment Type, do one of the following:
    • To automatically enroll users to groups, select Auto-enroll new users.
    • To randomly place users in groups, select Randomize users in groups. If you do not choose this option, users are placed alphabetically based on the Classlist.
    • To make the description of the groups visible to learners from within their groups, select Make category and group descriptions visible to group members.
    • If you select an Enrollment Type that supports self-enrollment, to set enrollment availability times, select the Set Self Enrollment Start Date and/or Set Self Enrollment Expiry Date check boxes and select dates from the mini calendar field.
  9. If you select Set Self Enrollment Expiry Date, but you want all learners who do not enroll before the expiry date to be enrolled, you can select Allocate unenrolled users after Self Enrollment Expiry Date to automatically, randomly and evenly distribute them into the available groups. This option adds group members beyond the capacity of groups, if applicable. The automatic enrollment recurs at a set interval after the expiry date to ensure that all learners are assigned to a group.
  10. Click Save.
  11. To customize individual group names, click the group and enter a new group name.
  12. Click Save.
  13. To set up discussion areas, locker areas, and assignments with the customized group name, from the category name's context menu, click Edit Category.
  14. In the Create Workspace area, select Set up discussion areas, Set up lockers, and/or Set up assignments.
  15. Click Save.
  16. On the Create Restricted Topics page, select the Forum in which you want to create restricted topics.
  17. If you have the new group topic creation feature enabled, do one of the following:
    • If you want instructors to manage each topic individually, select the Create one topic per group radio button. Learners can only see topics assigned to their group.
    • If you want to enable instructors to manage all activity and assessment from one topic, select the Create one topic with threads separated by group radio button. Learners can only see threads from their own group.
  18. Click Create and Next.
  19. Enter a group discussion Title and Description.
  20. Click Create and Next.
  21. Click Done.

Additional information regarding Groups can be found at the D2L resource: Create and manage categories and groups.

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