Groups: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:13, 24 August 2017

Why use groups?

You are a teacher in a course where you have several classes and you want to filter your activities and gradebook so you only see one class at a time.
You are a teacher sharing a course with other teachers and you want to filter your activities and gradebook so you don’t see the students from your colleagues’ classes.
You want to allocate a particular activity, resource or topic section to just one class or set of users and you don’t want others to see it.

Group levels

Groups settings in course settings

A group or grouping can be used on two levels:

Course level - The group mode defined at the course level is the default mode for all activities defined within that course. To use groups you need first to set a group mode in Administration > Course administration > Edit settings.

Activity level - Each activity that supports groups can also have its own group mode defined. If the course setting "Force group mode" is set to "Yes" then the option to define the group mode for individual activities is not available. If it is set to "No", then the teacher may change the group mode:

Group modes

There are three group modes

No groups - There are no sub groups, everyone is part of one big community
Separate groups - Each group can only see their own group, others are invisible.
Visible groups - Each group works in their own group, but can also see other groups. (The other groups' work is read-only.)

For example, enabling either separate or visible groups on an assignment drop-box enables staff to filter the student submissions to see only those from a particular tutor group. With visible groups, students can see which other groups are doing the same activities as they are; with separate groups, they do not know which other groups are doing the same activities.

Using groups with discussion forums allow teachers to restrict interaction between students. Separate groups mean only students in the same group can see and participate in discussions within a particular forum. Visible groups allow students to see other group's discussions, but only participate in their own group's discussions.

Note: Where visible groups are used or the participant can access all groups, the user's own group is shown first, followed by other groups:

Creating a group

Click the 'Create group' button in Administration > Course administration > Users > Groups
Add a group name and optional description (displayed above the list of group members on the participants page), enrolment key and picture (displayed on the participants page and next to forum posts)
Click the 'Save changes' button
Select the group to which you want to add participants, then click the 'Add/remove users button
In the "Potential members" list, select the users you want to add to the group. Multiple users may be selected using the Crtl key.
Click the Add button to add the users to the group

An optional group ID number (an advanced setting) may be added for matching the group against external systems. Group ID numbers are not displayed anywhere on the site. Within a course, all group ID numbers must be unique. Thus it's not possible to create a group with a duplicate group ID number.

Auto-create groups

Groups may be created automatically via the 'Auto-create groups' button in Administration > Course administration > Users > Groups. To see all the settings, click the Expand all link top right.

General

A naming scheme can be created automatically. # is replaced by sequential numbers, and @ by letters. For example:

Group @ will create group with a naming scheme Group A, Group B, Group C . . .
Group # will create group with a naming scheme Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 . . .

You can specify if you would like to create

x number of Groups or
each group contain x number of students

When selecting Members per group the Prevent last small group will allocate additional members to an existing group rather then create a new group with fewer members than x. This setting is found by clicking on the Show More link.

Group members

Select members from ... allows you to choose from roles assigned within the course, available cohorts, groups or groupings. Specify and Group/Member count work together.

The setting 'Select members from cohort' lists all cohorts which users enrolled on the current course are part of. The number in brackets is the number of users enrolled on the course in that cohort.

The 'Ignore users in groups' checkbox should be ticked to only select group members from users that are NOT already in a group in the course.

New feature
in Moodle 3.1! In Moodle 3.1 onwards, the 'Include only active enrolments' checkbox provides the option to choose whether to include suspended users in groups. The checkbox is only displayed to users with the capability to view suspended users.

Grouping

Create in grouping and Grouping name allows you to create a new grouping and allocate the new auto-created groups to be created to it.

Prior to creating the groups, you can view the groups.

Restricting an activity, resource or course topic to a particular group

Restricting an activity to a particular group

To be able to restrict an activity, resource or course topic to a group, Conditional activities must be enabled. This will result in a 'Restrict access' section in the activity, resource or topic settings and a group restriction can then be added.

Groups and enrol plugins

Where groups are created automatically with enrol plugins such as IMS Enterprise, members cannot be unenrolled manually via the groups screen inside a course. This has to be done from the plugin. Additionally, when group members are owned by a plugin like this, there is information below their name on the groups screen.

Groups overview

A overview of groups and groupings is available via the Overview tab in Administration > Course administration > Users > Groups.

The table may be filtered to display particular groupings or groups and it will also display students who are not in a group:

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Course admin}}
+{{Grouping users}}
-The '''Groups''' feature allows a teacher to assign teachers and students to one or more groups.  This can be on the course or on the activity level.
+==Why use groups?==
+*You are a teacher in a course where you have several classes and you want to filter your activities and gradebook so you only see one class at a time.
+*You are a teacher sharing a course with other teachers and you want to filter your activities and gradebook so you don’t see the students from your colleagues’ classes.
+*You want to allocate a particular activity, resource or topic section to just one class or set of users and you don’t want others to see it.
-Using groups on the course or activity level will allow the teacher to:
+==Group levels==
+[[File:groupmodecourse.png|thumb|Groups settings in course settings]]
-*Completely isolate groups of students by sight and activity from each other.
+A group or grouping can be used on two levels:
-*Partially separate groups, where one group can see other groups and each groups' activity, but not interact with the other group(s).
-*Identify each group with an icon.
-The groups feature can allow different cohorts of students(and their teachers) to take the same course asynchronously without creating a "new" course. Or it allows 1 course with a large student enrolment  to place students into sections, each section having their own teacher.  Or it allows 1 course that is used by different departments.
-{{Moodle 1.9}}
+*Course level - The group mode defined at the course level is the default mode for all activities defined within that course.  To use groups you need first to set a group mode in ''Administration > Course administration > Edit settings.''
-Groups must be enabled in the [[Course_settings]].  After it is enabled a group icon will appear in the [[Course administration block]].
-The [[Image:Group.gif]] icon links to the Groups screen. There are 3 tabs on this screen:
+*Activity level - Each activity that supports groups can also have its own group mode defined. If the course  setting "Force group mode" is set to "Yes" then the option to define the group mode for individual activities is not available. If it is set to "No", then the teacher may change the group mode:
-*Groups - create/edit a group, add/subtract members,
-*Groupings - create groups of individual groups
-*Overview
-==Groups tab==
+===Group modes===
-This screen changes depending upon the edit button which is selected below the "Groups" and "Members of" lists.  You will find buttons for: Show members of group, Edit group settings, Delete selected group, Create group, and  Auto create group.
-===Create a group===
+There are three group modes
-Select the Create a group button.  Give the group a name and a description. The [[enrolment key]] field will allow a user to enter the course and  will automatically make them a member of this group. Uploading a group icon, will place the icon on the participants listing, forum posts by those group members and other places.  The Save button takes you back to the Group tab screen.
-:''TIP:'' For the enrolment key to work you will need to define a separate course enrolment key in your 'course settings').
+*No groups - There are no sub groups, everyone is part of one big community
-:''TIP:'' To assign a group icon, you will need to have permission to add a picture to your profile.
+*Separate groups - Each group can only see their own group, others are invisible.
+*Visible groups - Each group works in their own group, but can also see other groups. (The other groups' work is read-only.)
-===Add or remove group members ===
+For example, enabling either separate or visible groups on an assignment drop-box enables staff to filter the student submissions to see only those from a particular tutor group. With visible groups, students can see which other groups are doing the same activities as they are; with separate groups, they do not know which other groups are doing the same activities.
-After creating a group, highlight a group and click the "Add members" button below the "Members of" list.  The screen will change. Next you will see the add and remove buttons between 2 lists.
-Highlite members you wish to add or remove. Remember you can use the Crtl key to select more than one person.
+Using groups with discussion forums allow teachers to restrict interaction between students. Separate groups mean only students in the same group can see and participate in discussions within a particular forum. Visible groups allow students to see other group's discussions, but only participate in their own group's discussions.
-===Auto-create groups===
+'''Note:''' Where visible groups are used or the participant can access all groups, the user's own group is shown first, followed by other groups:
-From the groups tab, it is possible to automate the creation of groups.  Auto creation is a powerful tool which can allocate members to groups by several methods (alpha or randomly), set maximum number of members, create a unique group name and even assisn the new group to a grouping.
-See [[Auto-create groups]] for more information.
+[[File:mygroupsfirst.png]]
-===Adding/subtracting people in a group===
+==Creating a group==
-To [[Assign users to group|add a member]](s) to a group you need to select the group name in the left column, then select the participants (use shift or ctrl for multiple selections), from the right column. Click the "Add" button to move them to the selected group..
+#Click the 'Create group' button in ''Administration > Course administration > Users > Groups''
+#Add a group name and optional description (displayed above the list of group members on the participants page), [[Enrolment key|enrolment key]] and picture (displayed on the participants page and next to forum posts)
+#Click the 'Save changes' button
+#Select the group to which you want to add participants, then click the 'Add/remove users button
+# In the "Potential members" list, select the users you want to add to the group. Multiple users may be selected using the Crtl key.
+# Click the Add button to add the users to the group
-To remove participants from a group, select the appropriate group to view members, select the participants to remove and click the "Remove selected members" button.
+An optional group ID number (an advanced setting) may be added for matching the group against external systems. Group ID numbers are not displayed anywhere on the site. Within a course, all group ID numbers must be unique. Thus it's not possible to create a group with a duplicate group ID number.
-==Groupings tab==
+==Auto-create groups==
-Groupings allow you combine individual groups, which then become a group itself.
+[[File:autocreategroups.png|thumb|Auto-create groups]]
+Groups may be created automatically via the 'Auto-create groups' button in ''Administration > Course administration > Users > Groups''. To see all the settings, click the ''Expand all'' link top right.
-See [[Groupings]] for more information.
+===General===
+A '''naming scheme''' can be created automatically.  # is replaced by sequential numbers, and @ by letters.  For example:
+*''Group @'' will create group with a naming scheme Group A, Group B, Group C . . .
+*''Group #'' will create group with a naming scheme Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 . . .
-==Overview tab==
+You can specify if you would like to  create
-The overview tab shows course groupings, and membership of each group.
+*x number of Groups or
+*each group contain x number of students
-See [[Groups overview]] for more information
+:When selecting '''Members per group''' the '''Prevent last small group''' will allocate additional members to an existing group rather then create a new group with fewer members than x. This setting is found by clicking on the Show More link.
-==Using groups in course or activity==
+===Group members===
+''Select members from ...'' allows you to choose from roles assigned within the course, available cohorts, groups or groupings.
+'''Specify''' and '''Group/Member count''' work together.
-A group or grouping can be used on two levels:
+The setting 'Select members from cohort' lists all cohorts which users enrolled on the current course are part of. The number in brackets is the number of users enrolled on the course in that cohort.
-* '''Course level''' - the group mode defined at the course level is the default mode for all activities defined within that course. This is determined in the course [[Course_settings|settings]]
+The 'Ignore users in groups' checkbox should be ticked to only select group members from users that are NOT already in a group in the course.
-* '''Activity level''' - each activity that supports groups can also have its own group mode defined. If the course  setting "Force group mode" is set to "Yes" then the option to define the group mode for individual activities is not available.
+{{New features}}In Moodle 3.1 onwards, the 'Include only active enrolments' checkbox provides the option to choose whether to include suspended users in groups. The checkbox is only displayed to users with the [[Capabilities/moodle/course:viewsuspendedusers|capability to view suspended users]].
-[[Image:forceNo.png]]
+===Grouping===
-'''AND'''
+'''Create in grouping''' and '''Grouping name''' allows you to create a new grouping and allocate the new auto-created groups to be created to it.
-[[Image:forceYes.png]]
+Prior to creating the groups, you can view the groups.
+==Restricting an activity, resource or course topic to a particular group==
+[[File:group restriction.png|frame|Restricting an activity to a particular group]]
+To be able to restrict an activity, resource or course topic to a group, [[Conditional activities]] must be enabled. This will result in a 'Restrict access' section in the activity, resource or topic settings and a group restriction can then be added.
+==Groups and enrol plugins==
-'''There are three group modes:'''
+Where groups are created automatically with enrol plugins such as  IMS Enterprise, members cannot be unenrolled manually via the groups screen inside a course. This has to be done from the plugin. Additionally, when group members are owned by a plugin like this, there is information below their name on the groups screen.
-===No groups===
+==Groups overview==
-:There are no sub groups, everyone is part of one big community.
-===Separate groups===
+A overview of groups and groupings is available via the Overview tab in ''Administration > Course administration > Users > Groups''.
-:Each group can only see their own group, others are invisible.
-===Visible groups===
+The table may be filtered to display particular [[Groupings|groupings]] or groups and it will also display students who are ''not'' in a group:
-:Each group works in their own group, but can also see other groups. (The other groups' work is read-only.)
+[[File:notinagroup1.png|center]]
-==Groups in older Moodle versions==
+==Groups capabilities==
-===Groups in 1.8===
-[[Image:Groups 1.8.png|thumb|center|Edit groups screen in Moodle 1.8]]
-Please note, in Moodle 1.8 onwards, [[Create group|groups are created]] and [[Assign users to group|users are assigned]] on separate pages.
+*[[Capabilities/moodle/course:managegroups|Manage groups]]
+*[[Capabilities/moodle/site:accessallgroups|Access all groups]]
-===Groups pre -1.8===
+*[[Capabilities/moodle/calendar:managegroupentries|Manage group calendar entries]]
-[[Image:000.jpg|left|thumb|Groups in Moodle 1.7]]In Moodle 1.6 and 1.7, the Groups edit page has three columns:
-* ''People in the course'' - both assigned and unassigned participants.
-* ''Groups'' - A list of groups available for this course.
-* ''Members of selected group'' - When you select a group this column will display the members of that group
-Underneath each column are the options for that column.
-===Pre 1.9 see also===
 ==See also==
-*[[Groups FAQ]]
-*[[Create group]] in Moodle 1.8 onwards, including information on setting group enrolment keys
-*[[Assign users to group]] in Moodle 1.8 onwards
-*[[What is the difference between groups and groupings?]]
 *[[Upload users]] - for importing users into groups
-*[https://docs.moodle.org/en/Groups_FAQ#Is_it_possible_to_create_site-wide_groups.3F Is it possible to create site-wide groups?]
+*[[Enrolment key]]
-*Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=1490 Groups forum]
+* [http://youtu.be/amyQjAESkZM Moodle Forum Types and Group Mode] MoodleBites video on YouTube
-[[Category:Groups]]
 [[de:Gruppen]]
 [[fr:Groupes]]
 [[ja:グループ]]
-[[pl:Grupy]]
+[[es:Grupos]]

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