Tutorial overview

This tutorial will show you how to enable the features on WebCT to promote student collaboration

This tutorial is rated as -

You'll need the following software - Internet explorer, firefox - any web browser

You'll need the following hardware - A modern PC connected to the internet

The other factors might help - A WebCT course already set up

You'll need to work through the following steps:-

You can set up areas for student collaboration using Groups. With Group Manager you can create: Custom Groups (single groups in which you select the members you want to add), Multiple Groups (empty groups to which you can add members later or create groups in which students are randomly distributed) or Groups with sign-up sheets (students are allowed to select the group they want to join by signing up to it themselves). Group activities can then be assigned to specific groups, including Discussions and Assignments. Assignments allow work to be submitted as attachments, for example a Word document or a web site.

In order to create Groups:
Create Custom Group

1. Click on the Teach tab
2. Click on Group Manager from the left hand Instructor Tools
3. Click on Create Groups
4. Click on the radio button to the left of Create custom group
5. Click on Continue
6. Enter a name for your group in the box provided
7. Enter a Group description if you wish (this is not compulsory)
8. Click on Add Members
9. If you wish to add all registered students, click on Add All
10. To choose individuals click in the boxes to the left of the names that you wish to select
11. Click on Add Selected
12. Click on Save

Create Multiple Groups

1. Click on the Teach tab
2. Click on Group Manager from the left hand Instructor Tools
3. Click on Create Groups
4. Click on the radio button to the left of Create multiple groups
5. Click on Continue
6. Enter a word or phrase for all group names to start with in the box provided (eg Laboratory class)
7. Enter a Default description if required (this is not compulsory)
8. For How Should the Groups Be Created? Click on Create empty groups, and add members later, and enter a number in the Number of Groups boxes or accept the default of Create full groups, and randomly distribute students
9. Click on the box beside Include the demo student in one of the groups if you wish to experience the full group functionality using the Student View tab
10. Under Set Up Groups, click on the radio button beside either By number of groups and enter the appropriate number, or By number of students per group and enter the appropriate number
11. Click on Continue
12. Edit group names and descriptions, as desired
13. Click on Save

Create groups with sign-up sheets

1. Click on the Teach tab
2. Click on Group Manager from the left hand Instructor Tools
3. Click on Create Groups
4. Click on the radio button to the left of Create groups with sign-up sheets
5. Click on Continue
6. Enter the number of groups you require in the text box beside Number of groups:
7. Enter a Word or phrase all group names start with in the box provided
8. Enter a Default description if you wish (this is not compulsory)
9. Enter a number in the box beside Maximum Students per group
10. Click in the box beside Student view if you wish to allow students who have not yet joined a group to see the names of group members on the sign-up sheet
11. Enter a Sign-up sheet title
12. Enter Sign-up sheet instructions in the box provided if required
13. From the drop down list provided beside Place the sign-up sheet link on, select a location for your sign-up sheets
14. Click on Continue
15. Edit Groups names, Descriptions or Maximum students per group limit, if required
16. Click on Save

Creating a group activity Once you have created your groups, you can assign an activity to an individual group.

Assigning a Discussion topic or Chat Room to a group

1. Click on the Teach tab
2. Click on Group Manager from the left hand Instructor Tools
3. Click in the box beside the group to which you wish to allocate an activity
4. From the drop-down menu beside Create Group Activity select either Discussion Topic or Chat Room

Discussion Topic

• From the drop-down menu beside Create Group Activity select Discussion topic and click on the green arrow to the right of it
• Enter a Title for your discussion topic
• Enter a Description if you require one (this is not compulsory)
• If you wish to make the discussion topic gradeable click in the box to the left of Topic is gradable and enter in Grade Book column title in the text box provided
• Enter a maximum numerical or alphabetical grade in the text box provided, and click on the appropriate radio button
• Click in the box beside Editable posts if you wish to allow your students the ability to edit their messages once they have been posted
• Click on Save

• From the drop-down menu beside Create Group Activity select Chat Room and click on the green arrow to the right of it
• By default, the title of your group will appear in the Name text box, this can be edited if required
• Enter a Description (this is compulsory)
• Enter a number of Maximum users in the box provided
• Under Type, click on the radio button beside Chat and Whiteboard, Chat only or Whiteboard only
• Click on Save

Group Assignments
Once you have set up your groups you can allocate assignments to individual groups, allowing them to work collaboratively, submitting one assignment per group, each member of the group receiving the same grade.
In order to add assignments, please see separate section "How to I add an assignment?"

Possible benefits - These collaboration tools allow you to set up group working exercise just like you would with your course outside WebCT.