Group Tools: Discussions, Journals, Blogs & Wikis

When you create groups in your course, you are able to utilize a variety of tools within each group to facilitate small group work. Among these tools are the group discussion board, group blogs, group journals, and group wikis. 

Enabling group tools while creating groups:

1. On the course menu, expand the Users and Groups section, and click on Groups.
2. On the Groups page, click Create Group. Choose the type of group you wish to create.
   1. Note: To see more information on creating groups and the different types of groups, visit our Groups Page.
3. On the Create Group Page, enter a group name, description, and add any attachments.

4. Under the Group Tools section, select any of the following tools:

    Group Discussions (Click Here)

   Under Group Tools, check the box next to Discussion Board. Choose whether to allow any group members to create forums, or if you only want students to be able to create threads. 

   

   If you would like to grade group discussions, the discussion board within the group itself must be edited. To edit the group discussion board:

   1. On the course menu, expand on the Users and Groups section, and select Groups.
   2. On the Groups page, click on the title of the group.
   3. On the Group home page, click on Group Discussion Board. 

   
   4. On the Group Discussion Board page, click on the action link next to the forum name, and click Edit on the drop-down menu. 

   
   5. On the Edit Discussion Forum page, scroll down to the Forums Settings section.
   6. Under the Grading section, select that the forum be graded.
   7. Enter the points possible, and optionally attach a rubric.

   
   8. When you are finished, click Submit. 

   

    Group Blogs (Click Here)

   Under Group Tools, check the box next to Blogs. Choose whether or not you would like to grade the Group Blogs. If you choose to grade the blogs, add the possible point value. Optionally, you can associate a grading rubric to the blogs to be used for grading. You can also choose when participants' submissions will show up on the Needs Grading page. 

   

    Group Journals (Click Here)

   Under Group Tools, check the box next to Journals. Choose whether or not you would like to grade the Group Journals. If you choose to grade the journals, add the possible point value. Optionally, you can associate a grading rubric to the journals to be used for grading. You can also choose when participants' submissions will show up on the Needs Grading page. 

   

    Group Wikis (Click Here)

   Under Group Tools, check the box next to Wikis. Choose whether or not you would like to grade the Group Wikis. If you choose to grade the wikis, add the possible point value. Optionally, you can associate a grading rubric to the wikis to be used for grading. You can also choose when participants' submissions will show up on the"Needs Grading page. 

   

5. Once you have chosen all of the tools you would like to use in your course groups, complete the remaining required information, and click the Submit button.

Enabling group tools after creating groups:

1. If you have already enabled groups in your course, you are able to edit them to add group tools.
   
   
   
   
2. On the Edit Group page, you are able to change any of the settings that you previously chose.
   
   
   
   
3. When you have finished editing the group, click Submit.