The Groups tool enables collaborative learning and team-based assignments in your courses. Here’s what you need to know:

What is the Groups Tool?

The Groups tool allows for the creation of group work areas and for instructors to divide learners into smaller groups for assignments, discussions, and other collaborative activities.

You may belong to multiple groups within the same course as a learner. Each group can have its own discussion forums, assignments, and locker area to work in. Group members can be graded individually or as a team. From the Table of Contents, navigate to the Evaluations module to review assessment overview documents to determine how you will be graded.

Key Features

1. Group Enrolments: Group enrolments can be either manual (instructor-assigned) or self-enrolment (students choose their own groups within given parameters).
2. Group Workspaces: Each group has its own private workspace with tools like discussion boards, dropboxes for assignments, and collaborative documents.
3. Group Management: You can view your group members, change your group if self-enrolment is enabled, and access your group workspace.

How to Use the Groups Tool

1. Accessing Groups: Navigate to ‘Communication’ in the course navbar, then select ‘Groups’.
2. Viewing Group Details: Click or tap the name of your group to view the members and access the group workspace.
3. Group Workspace: Here, you can participate in discussions, share files, and collaborate on assignments.
4. Self-Enrolment: If enabled by the instructor, you can select ‘Enroll in Group’ to choose your own group.

Remember, the Groups tool is an excellent way to engage more deeply with your peers and your course content. Don’t hesitate to participate actively and contribute your unique perspectives to the group activities.

Enroll in a Group

View Group Enrolment

Groups, members, and and associated workspaces (assignments, discussions, etc.) can be viewed using the Groups tool.

Alternatively, to see groups and their members using the Classlist follow the steps outlined below:

1. From the navbar, select Communication then Classlist
2. Select the Students tab
3. Select Groups using the View By drop-down list
4. Select Apply
5. View the different group members by using the Groups drop-down list

References

BrightSpace Tutorials. (2018, April 5). Groups – enroll in a group – learner. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MeC4tg03sHY

Fisher, A. (n.d.). Student’s Guide to Avenue to Learn. Avenue Help. https://avenuehelp.mcmaster.ca/exec/students-guide-to-avenue-to-learn/