This tutorial walks you through the steps on how to use the group manager in Bb Vista.
How to Create Groups in Bb Vista
- Log into Bb Vista by typing http://vista.nau.edu in the address bar, and select Go.
- Select the course where you would like to create your groups.
- Once you are in your course, go to the Teach tab.
- Select the Group Manager, which is located at the bottom left hand corner of the page.
- Once you open the Group Manager, select Create Groups.
- Bb Vista offers three group types including custom groups, multiple groups, and groups with sign-up sheets.
How to Create Custom Groups
- First, select the Create custom group option.
- Then, select the Continue button at the bottom of the frame.
- You need to enter each custom group separately. In this example, you will create two custom groups: Pluto Group and Mercury Group.
- In the field next to Group Name, type Pluto Group.
- The Group description is optional.
- Scroll down and select Add Members button.
- Select the students who will be in this group.
- Scroll down and select the Add Selected button.
- Verify that the correct students were added, then select the Save button.
- To add the Mercury Group, select Create Groups button.
- In the field next to Group name, type Mercury Group.
- Scroll down and select Add Members button.
- Select the students for this group, and click the Add Selected button.
- Verify that the students were added, and then select the Save button.
- You should now see both the Pluto Group and Mercury Group listed in your Group Manager.
How to Create Multiple or Random Groups in Bb Vista
- To create a random group, select the Create Groups button.
- Choose the Create multiple groups option.
- Next, select the Continue button at the bottom of the frame.
- In the field next to Word or phrase all group names start with: type Group Project.
- The default description is optional.
- Scroll down and select the Create full groups and randomly distribute students option.
- To see how the demo student would view the group, select the Include the demo Student in one of the groups option.
- You can either set up the groups by number of groups or by number of students per group. We will add three students in each group.
- Scroll down and choose how you like to handle the distribution of extra members.
- Select the Distribute extra members among the groups option.
- You also have the option to Put members in their own group or Leave extra members to be added manually to a group.
- Select the Continue button.
- You should see Confirm Created Groups at the top of the frame.
- Notice how a number is added to the end of the general title Group Project.
- If you scroll to the right, you will see how the members have been randomized for both Group Project 1 and Group Project 2.
- If needed, you can shuffle the members until you like how the groups are arranged.
- Select Save.
How to Create Groups with Sign-Up Sheets in Bb Vista
- Select the Create Groups button.
- Next, choose the Create groups with sign-up sheets option, and then select Continue.
- Enter the number of groups or topics that you want the students to choose from. In this example, I decided to have five groups.
- In the field next to Word or phrase all groups names start with, type Group Project. Note that you can customize this title later.
- The default description is optional.
- Determine the maximum number of students for each group. In this example, I entered five students.
- I am not going to check the box to the left of Allow Students who have not yet joined a group to see the names of group members because I want to encourage students to join the group for the topic itself not because their friends are in a particular group.
- Next, scroll down to the Sign-Up Sheet Settings.
- In the field to the right of Sign-up sheet title, I entered Sign up for your group project.
- The sign-up sheet instructions are optional.
- Scroll down next to Place the sign-up sheet link on:
- Now, you will select where the students should sign up for the group project.
- In this example, I will place the sign-up sheet on the Home Page.
- Next, select the Continue button.
- At this point, you can customize each of the group names as well as add custom descriptions for each group.
- Select Save.
How to Create Ways for Group Members to Collaborate within Their Group
In Blackboard Vista, group members can communicate in the following three ways: group email, group discussion, and group chat. You can also send email to groups by using the Mail tool. This is automatically created after you initially create the groups. If you want your students to collaborate in these other ways; however, you will need to manually create a group discussion and group chat
- To manually create a group discussion and group chat, select Group Manager.
- If you would like to add the same activity to all of your groups, select the Group Name option. By doing so, you will select all your groups.
- To the right of Create Group Activity, click onto – Select – then click onto Discussion Topic if you want your students to have a place to work in a group discussion area.
- Next, select the green go arrow.
- In this example, I will choose a Threaded topic.
- Select the Next button.
- Type in a general title such as, Group Work.
- In this tutorial, I am not going to review all the
elements of a threaded discussion; however you can refer to the Communicating with
Your Students manual for a thorough review of threaded discussions. - Scroll down to the bottom of the frame, select the Save button.
