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Brightspace provides multiple ways to create Groups. Below is an in-depth description for each enrollment type, along with some suggestions on when to use each one. Please email cpi@brocku.ca with any further questions.

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Learn best by video? Check out a group enrollment types breakdown using scenarios/use-cases here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvWgovq-N_M

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# of Groups – No Auto Enrollments

Selecting this option creates a specified number of groups, for which you can manually add any number of users using the Enroll Users page.

When to use:

  • Use this enrollment type when you know how many groups you want to create and which specific users you want in each group.

Groups of #

Selecting this option creates the minimum number of groups needed to place users in groups of a specified maximum size. More groups are created automatically when they are needed to accommodate users. In the Members column of the Groups table, capacity markers display in the form x/y, where x is the number of enrolled students and y is the capacity.

When to use:

  • Use this enrollment type when you know how many users you want in each group. Select this option when you have assignments that require work to be divided between a specific number of users, or when you can only accommodate a set number of users in a lab or work area at one time.

  • If you also enable the Auto-enroll new users option and all of the existing groups reach their maximum size, new users are added to a new group. Because there is no way to know how many new users will join, all new users are added to the same group until it is full.

  • If users are enrolled after groups are set up, users are added to groups using a bucket-filling algorithm because there is no way for the system to determine how many groups in total are needed. For example, if a maximum group size of 5 users is chosen for a class in which 23 users eventually enroll, the first five users are added to Group 1, the sixth through tenth user to Group 2, and so on. After 23 users are enrolled, groups 1-4 have 5 users and Group 5 has 3 users.

  • If the Can be auto enrolled into groups option is cleared, the minimum number of groups needed to create groups under the specified size are created with no users enrolled in them. If no users are enrolled in the course, one group is created. You can enroll users using the Enroll Users page.

# of Groups

Selecting this option creates a specified number of groups.

When to use:

  • Use this enrollment type when you know how many groups you want to create, but want the system to place users in groups for you.

  • If the Can be auto enrolled into groups option is enabled, users are added using a brick laying algorithm, regardless of whether they enrolled before or after the groups were created. For example, if a class has 23 users and 5 groups, the first user is added to Group 1, the second to Group 2, and so on. The sixth user returns the enrollment sequence to Group 1. Groups 1, 2, and 3 have 5 users and Groups 4 and 5 have 4 users. If a new user enrolls later, they are put in Group 4.

  • If the Can be auto enrolled into groups option is not enabled, the specified number of groups are created with no users enrolled in them. You can enroll users using the Enroll Users page.

Groups of # – Self Enrollment

Selecting this option creates the minimum number of groups needed to accommodate users in groups of a specified maximum size automatically. Users choose the group they want to enroll in from the Groups page. In the Members column of the Groups grid list, capacity markers display in the form x/y, where x is the number of enrolled students and y is the capacity.

When to use:

  • This can be used as a Sign-up tool for various events or activities taking place in the course

  • Use this enrollment type when you know how many users you want in each group, but you want to allow users to choose their own groups.

  • If there are no users enrolled in your course at the time of creation, then only one group is initially created. You can use the Edit Category page to add additional groups.

Info

By default, users cannot self-enroll in more than one group

# of Groups – Self Enrollment

Selecting this option creates a specified number of groups, which users enroll in from the Groups page.

When to use:

  • This can be used as a Sign-up tool for various events or activities taking place in the course

  • Use this enrollment type when you want to make a specific number of groups available for users to join. Select this option when you want to organize groups on specific topics. By default, users cannot self-enroll in more than one group at one time.

# of Groups, Capacity of # – Self Enrollment

Selecting this option creates a specified number of groups with a specified number of enrollments per group. Users choose the group they want to enroll in from the Groups page. In the Members column of the Groups table, capacity markers display in the form x/y, where x is the number of enrolled students and y is the capacity.

Info

You can increase or decrease the capacity for self-enrollment groups after they have been created, and prior to the group sign-up expiry date and time. Decreasing a group size to an amount smaller than has already signed up for a group will not re-allocate users to other groups, so you must assign those users manually to other groups.

When to use:

  • This can be used as a Sign-up tool for various events or activities taking place in the course

  • Use this enrollment type when you know how many users you want in each group, you want to allow users to choose their own groups, and you want each group to have a maximum number of users.

Single user, member-specific groups

Using this option creates a group with a single user where the first name and last name of the student is the name of the group. When a new student is enrolled in the course a group is automatically created for them.

When to use:

  • Select this option when you want to create journal type groups with a single member.

  • Select this option if you want to create one-on-one discussions between students and instructor using the Discussions workspace. Learn more about Discussions here: Discussions