If you’re teaching a larger course or finding it difficult to engage students in discussion posts, small group discussions might be the solution.
In Canvas, you can create small groups either randomly or intentionally, based on factors like topic, interest, major, and so on. This approach can help students feel more connected to each other and to the subject matter, making their participation feel more meaningful. This often leads to more thoughtful and insightful discussion posts.
Creating student groups can be a great way to scale grading for instructors and create opportunities for engagement and interaction among students. Canvas groups are easy to set up and can be graded collectively or individually, determined in the assignment set up process.
These groups work best with scaffolded work flows and due dates for phases of the deliverables, as well as student buy-in on rating participation levels of their individual team members. Instructors can create a separate assessment for individual contributions as an extra incentive for participation, as well as reassurance to hard-working students who feel like they “do all the work.”
Collaborations
The Canvas Collaborations tool can be used within the Group Workspace to facilitate collaborative processes amongst student group members and faculty. With well-defined instructions on setting up projects, suggested workflow, and accountability measures, these activities promote student interactivity, peer and instructor feedback, and real world practices.
Student groups can share Google docs, slides, sheets, forms, drawings, and sites that are only accessible to their team and to the instructor. After they are set up, the collaborations are listed in the group workspace for quick and easy access.