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Manage Groups

What it is.

This Blackboard feature allows an instructor to set up students into groups with access to certain communication settings and file exchange options unique to that group.

Implications for Teaching and Learning.

Collaboration is a means for students to engage in active learning, build academic relationships, and foster community and cooperation in an online classroom. Faculty have a number of options for creating the environment and parameters for groups of students to work with and apply content, communicate, and produce work conveniently within the frame of a Blackboard course.

Setting it Up.

Setting up a group in Blackboard is a two-fold process. The first step is to set up the group areas with the desired options, and then add the users. Note that users can be assigned to more than one group at a given time.

1. From the Control Panel, under User Management, click Manage Groups.

2. On the next screen, click Add a Group.

3. The next screen calls for you to add the name of the group and a description. You will also be enabling options for the group. After you name the group, enter a description for the group by either typing or copying and pasting the information in the VTBE.

4. Next, scroll down to the Group Options section and choose the tools that you wish to make available for the group. Below are brief descriptions of these areas and what they do.

Group Discussion Available - Creates a Discussion area for the members of the group only.
Group Virtual Classroom Available - Enables users in the group to access the lightweight chat tool and virtual classroom, and participate in real-time discussions.

Group File Exchange Available - Enables users in the group to store and exchange files in a private digital drop box.

Group Email Available - Enables users in the group to send email messages to each other.

5. Choose if you would like to make the Group Available (visible) to students by selecting either the Yes or No radio buttons. A group can be made visible or invisible to students at any time.

6. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

7. Finally, click OK to acknowledge the addition of the group.

Adding Users to a Group.

1. To add users to a group you've created just created you may click on the Modify button next to the group, and proceed through the following steps. If you are at a different place in your course, go to the Control Panel, then click on Manage Groups, and then click on the Modify button next to the group you wish to add users to.

2. This opens the Manage Group page; click on Add Users to Group.

3. Type the last name of the user you wish to add into the search box and click the Search button. Alternately, you can also leave the search field blank and click the Search button to list all users in the course. and then check the box next to each user you wish to assign to the group.

4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

5. Click the OK button to acknowledge the addition of the users to the group.

Removing Users from a Group.

Individual users or all users in a group can be removed at any time. Please note that if a user has already participated in discussions, chats, or posted files in the group area, then this information will also be removed and cannot be recovered.

Follow the directions below to remove users from a group:

1. Click on Manage Groups in the User Management section of the course Control Panel.

2. Click on the Modify button next to the desired group.

3. Select the Remove Users from Group link.

4. Type the last name of the user you wish to remove and click the Search button. You can also leave the search field blank and click the Search button to list all users assigned to the group.

5. Check the checkbox next to each user you wish to remove from the group.

6. Type "Yes" (without the quotes) in the confirmation box.

7. Click the Submit button.

8. Click the OK button to confirm your request.

9. Click the OK button to acknowledge the removal of the users from the group.

Removing a Group.

Groups can be removed from Blackboard at any time. When a group is removed, all discussions and files that members of the group have posted will be removed, and cannot be recovered.

Follow the directions below to remove a group:

1. Click on Manage Groups in the User Management area of the course Control Panel.

2. Click the Remove button next to the group you wish to remove.

3. Click OK to confirm the process.

Adding the Groups Link to your Course Menu.

Students can view the available groups by clicking on the Communication link on the course navigation menu and selecting the Group Pages link from the list of tools. However, if the group pages will be accessed frequently in the course, it is a recommended that you add a shortcut link to the navigation menu.

Follow the directions below to add a shortcut to Groups on your course navigation menu:

1. Click on the Manage Course Menu link in the Course Options section of the Control Panel.

2. To add the Groups link to the course menu click the Tool Link button.

3. From the Type drop down list select Groups.

4. In the Name textbox enter the desired name for this link (e.g. Groups).

5. Make sure that the Available for Student/Participant users check box is checked and click the Submit button.

6. Click the OK button on the Receipt page.

The Groups link will now be added to the bottom of the course menu. To change the position of the Groups link, click on Manage Course Menu again, click in the dropdown menu beside Groups and select a new number. The screen will refresh, displaying the menu items according to the new order. Click OK.