Group Sets
Group sets house the different groups within a course. Before creating a new group set, you may want to view the existing group sets. You can also clone an existing group set. You can also edit or delete an existing group set.
Once you have created a group set, you can manually create groups in the set or automatically create groups in the set. Alternatively, you can create and assign students to groups by importing a CSV file.
Note: Canvas allows you to create up to 200 groups.
1. In Course Navigation, click the People link.
2. Click the + Group Set button.
Save Group Set
Name the new group by typing it in the Group Set Name field [1].
You can allow self sign-ups by selecting the Allow self sign-up checkbox [2].
You can automatically create groups by splitting the students into equal groups or selecting the number of students per group.
To split the students into a number of equal groups, click the Split students into [number] groups radio button [3]. Then type the number of groups in the dialog box.
To create groups with a certain number of students, click the Split students into groups with [number] students per group [4]. Then type the number of students per group in the dialog box.
To manually create groups or create groups using a CSV file, click the I'll create groups later radio button [5].
Click the Save button [6].
Notes:
- Except when creating groups manually, you can automatically set student group leaders.
- The Require group members to be in the same section option is available in self sign-up and automatically created groups.
- The maximum number of groups that Canvas can create for an automatically assigned group set is 200. If you ask Canvas to create more than 200 groups, it will only create 200.
View the group set you created.
1. In Course Navigation, click the People link.
2. Select one of the group set tabs.
3. Click the Options menu [1] and select the Clone Group Set link [2].
1. In Course Navigation, click the People link.
2. Select one of the group set tabs.
3. Click the Options menu [1] and select the Edit[2] or Delete [3] link.
Self sign-up groups allow users to choose the group they want to be in as part of a group set. You can also limit the number of members who can sign up for each group.
Note: You may have to change the group settings later if you want to prevent students from switching sections.
1. In Course Navigation, click the People link.
2. Click the + Group Set button.
3. Create a name for the group set in the Group Set Name text field [1]. Click the Allow self sign-up checkbox [2].
If you want to require group members to be in the same section, click the Require group members to be in the same section checkbox.
Next to the Group Structure heading, enter the number of groups you would like to create. You can create more groups at a later time, if necessary. You can also use the arrows in the number field to increase or decrease the number.
You can also limit the number of group members for each group to help keep your groups balanced. To limit a group, type in the maximum number of members who can be in a group. Once the group is full, students will not be able to join the group. If you do not want to limit the group, leave this field blank.
4. Click the Save button.
Notes:
- Limiting the number of group members will apply to all groups within the group set, but you can change member limitations within groups by editing an individual group. However, at a later time if you decide to edit the entire group set and change the group set limitations, Canvas will override all member limitations created within individual groups.
- Groups will be automatically named based on the group set name.
Verify your self sign-up group underneath the group title and group settings.
Prevent Students from Switching Groups
Simply deselect the Allow self sign-up checkbox and click the Save button.