Desire2Learn

Working with Groups: Additional Options

Desire2Learn has features that make it possible to tailor activities in your class to group work. You can limit discussions and restrict content to groups. You can also easily email just the members of a group and view your gradebook by groups.

This document provides information on the following options when working with groups:

• Releasing Content to Specific Groups
• Limiting Discussions by Group Membership
• Emailing the Members of a Group
• Viewing the Gradebook by Groups

Releasing Content to Specific Groups

You can release course content to a specified group. For example, you may have each group in your class working on a different case study. You can post the case studies in the Content area of the course and release them based on group membership.

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click CONTENT.

2. The Manage Content window appears.

3. For the appropriate topic, click EDIT.
   The EditTopic dialog appears.

4. Click on the Restrictions tab.
   Under Release Conditions, click ATTACH EXISTING.
   The Attach Existing Conditions dialog box appears.
   
   

5. Click ATTACH.

6. Click on CREATE AND ATTACH.
   The Create a New Release Condition dialog box opens.
   
   

7. From the Condition Type pull-down list, select Group Enrollment .
   The dialog box is refreshed. From the Group pull-down list, select a group.
   The dialog box is refreshed.

8. Click CREATE.

9. In the Edit Topic dialog box, click SAVE.

Limiting Discussions by Group Membership

Limiting discussions to specific groups can help students focus on a topic and can help an instructor evaluate contributions of students in discussions. Restricting the discussion is done after a discussion topic has been created. For instructions on how to do this, refer to Discussions: Forum and Topic Options.

Emailing the Members of a Group

Rather than emailing each group member or selecting their names individually from the Address Book, you can view the Address Book in groups. Then, you can easily address an email to the group. For more information on using email, refer to Sending Email in Desire2Learn.

Remember that before individual groups were created, you created a Group Type. The Group Type Name generally corresponds to the context in which the group will function (e.g., Project 1). As you work with the email option for groups, you will be asked to select the Group Type Name before the groups can be displayed. For more information, refer to Working with Groups.

To email the members of a group:

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click EMAIL.
   A Compost New Message window appears.

2. Click ADDRESS BOOK.
   The Address Book window opens.
   

3. From the Filter By list, select the group type name.
   The Address Book is refreshed to show student names organized by group.
   

4. To select all members of a group, select the check box next to To Cc Bcc

5. Click TO, CC, or BCC as appropriate.
   Click ADD RECIPIENTS.

6. Complete the email message.

7. Click SEND.

Viewing the Gradebook by Groups

As you review and/or grade group assignments, it may be helpful to view your gradebook organized by groups. Students are listed alphabetically by last name within their groups.

Remember that before individual groups were created, you created a Group Category . The Group Category Name generally corresponds to the context in which the group will function (e.g., Project 1). As you work with this gradebook option for groups, you will be asked to select the Group Type Name before the groups can be displayed. For more information, refer to Working with Groups.

To view the gradebook by groups:

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click GRADES.

2. From the View By pull-down list, select Groups.
   The Groups pull-down list appears.
   
   

3. From the Groups pull-down list, select the Group Category name.
   The gradebook is refreshed and now shows students within their groups.