Step-By-Step
Creating Course Site Groups
(Text version)

1. Blackboard allows instructors and TAs to divide their class into groups and provide those groups with their own file exchange, discussion board, chat room and e-mail interface. This is frequently used when students need to work in groups and need to be able to exchange files. Each group has its own page within the course site and can only be accessed by the members of the group.

2. To create a Blackboard group:

• Log into the Blackboard course site as usual.
• Go to Control Panel / Manage Groups. This will display the Manage Groups form. The first time you access this page there may be no groups listed.
• Click on the "Add Group" button at the top of the page. This will display the "Add Group" form
• Type in a name for the group in the box marked "Group Name".
• Type in a description for the group in the text box marked "Description". Many instructors use this box to list the last names of the members of the group because there is no other convenient manner to quickly see which student belongs to which group.
• Under Group Options, checkmark the functions you want the group to access.
• Check marking "Enable Group Discussion Board Function" will provide a Discussion Board that can only be accessed by members of the group.
• Check marking the "Enable Group Virtual Classroom Function" will provide a chat room that can only be accessed by members of the group.
• Check marking the "Enable Group File Exchange Function" will provide a digital file exchange function that can only be accessed by members of the group.
• Check marking the "Enable Group E-Mail Function" will provide an email interface on the group's page that can only be accessed by members of the group.
• After you have selected the options you want the group to access click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the group has been created.

3. You must now populate the group with user accounts. To add student accounts to the group:

• Go to Control Panel / Manage Groups. This will display the Manage Groups form. Any groups that you have created will be listed on this page.
• Click on the "Modify" button to the right of the group you want to add student accounts. This will display the "Manage Group" menu for that group.
• Click on "Add Users to the Group". This will display the "Add Users to Group" form for that group.
• Click on the "search" button. This will display a list all of the user accounts associated with the course.
• Checkmark the student accounts you want added to the group. Then click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the group has been updated. The students are now members of the group and can access all of the functions that you have allowed.
• Note: You can also add or remove Group options, remove users from the group or view group member accounts by going to Control Panel / Manage Groups and clicking on the Modify button to the right of the group name.

4. Instructors and TAs, though not part of any group, can access all group pages and all of the functions associated with them. Instructors or TA may create as many Group pages as they want. A student can be a member of more than one group. You must inform your students that you have created Group pages on your Blackboard site and let them know which group or groups they can access.

5. Students access their group page through the course site. To access a group page the student:

• Logs into the Blackboard course site as usual.
• Clicks on Communication / Group Pages. This displays the names and descriptions of each group.
• Clicks on the name of the group in which they are a member. This displays the Group Page for that group. If a student attempts to click on a group name of which they are not a member they will receive a message telling them that they do not have rights to access that group page.
• Group members can now access all of the functions available to the group.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Step-By-Step procedure contact the Tufts Blackboard Administrator at: nhirsig@tufts.edu