11.1 Accessing Groups

Groups are a tool lecturers can use to create a space in Canvas where you can work together with classmates on projects and assignments.

If you are assigned to a group by your lecturer, you will be able to access this space along with others in your group.

11.2 Joining a Group

Your lecturer may ask you to join a group where you will work together with classmates on projects and assignments.

Or, your lecturer may assign you to a group and you may not have the option to join a group.

You will not be able to sign up for a group if the "People" tab is not available in your course navigation.

The "Groups" tab lists all groups currently in the course. Available groups will have a "Join" link on the right-hand side.

Find the group you wish to join and click on the “Join” link.

When you are a member of a group in your Canvas course, your group will have a separate space in the course to work. This is called your group space.

Your group space is only accessible by your group members and your lecturer.

In your group space, you will have access to a number of different tools—similar to those your lecturer may use in your course.

Home: The homepage displays a feed of recent activity in your group.
Announcements: Like course announcements, you have the ability to communicate with your group about important information like meeting times or upcoming assignments.
Pages: Pages can include text, video, and links to files and other course or group content.
People: See a list of your group members.
Discussions: Just like in your course, you can have discussions with your group members.
Files: A shared place to store and share files with your group.
Conferences: Allows you to set up video meetings with your group members.
Collaborations: Lets you create shared documents, slides, or spreadsheets in Google or Office 365 that all group members can edit and update.