Participating in Group Collaborations in ISU Canvas for Students

This article provides instructions on how to participate in Group Collaborations in an ISU Canvas course at Idaho State University (ISU). Collaborations are web-based tools that students can use to work collaboratively in tasks like group papers or note-taking. This page gives instructors and students an easy place to keep track of collaborations without have to swap emails, etc.

• Creating a Collaboration and Shared Google Doc
• Creating a Group Discussion
• Creating a Group Page
• Submitting assignments as a group
• Frequently Asked Questions About Groups
• Additional Resources

1. From the left-side Navigation menu, select the Collaborations link.
2. By default, the Collaborate using drop-down menu is set to Google Assignments. If you have not previously authorized a web tool access in Canvas, you may be prompted to authorize access. To do so, select the Authorize Google Drive Access button. 
3. Enter a Document name and Description.
4. Under File type, select Docs, Slides, Sheets, or Forms.
5. Select the check box next to a person's name who you want to give access to the collaboration. To remove a user, hover your cursor over the user name and select the Remove icon. Any person you add will have access to edit the shared Google document.
6. At the bottom of the Start a New Collaboration window, select Create.

For more information see: How do I start a collaboration in a group as a student?

If you are a member of a group in your course, you can start discussions within the group.

1. From the left-side Navigation menu, select the Discussions link.
2. Select the Add Discussion button.
3. Enter a discussion title in the Topic Title field.
4. Select options for your discussion, such as allowing others to like it and adding it to other group members to-do lists.
5. To start the discussion, select the Save button.

View or Edit Discussion

1. If you need to edit the discussion, click the Options Menu (three dots in the top right.)
2. Select the Edit link.
3. To save the changes, select the Save button.

For more information see: How do I create a discussion in a group as a student?

You can create Canvas Pages to use for group collaboration. A Page can be used to enter text, add a link or media file, etc. that will be available to students assigned to your Group.

1. In the left-side Navigation menu, select Pages. Note: Pages is designed to open to the front page for a group, if there is a front page selected. Select the View All Pages button to select a specific page from the Pages index.
2. To start a new page, select the + Page button.
3. Type a name for the page. You can edit the content and add links and media using the Rich Content Editor. If you are not seeing the Editor tool that you need, select the 3 dots at the end of the icon list - this will open a second set of icons to choose from.
4. Decide who can edit the page by selecting the Users allowed to edit this page drop-down menu. You can also notify people that content has changed by selecting the Notify users that this content has changed checkbox.
5. Select the Save button. Note: If you try to navigate from a page without saving, a pop-up warning will be generated.

For more information see: How do I create a new page in a group?

1. In Course Navigation, click the Assignments link.
2. Click the name of the assignment.
3. To open assignment submission options, click the Start Assignment button. A banner may appear above your assignment to indicate that your instructor has removed the group assignment from total grade calculations. However, this setting does not affect assignment submissions.
4. Upload your file.
   • To upload a file from your computer, click the Upload File button. When the file window appears, locate and click the name of the file. At the bottom of the window, click the Choose or Browse button (depending on your browser).
   • To upload a file you already uploaded to Canvas, click the Click here to find a file you've already uploaded link. The file list will expand. Click the name of the file.
   • You can add a comment to your group assignment submission. Comments on group assignments that are not graded individually are sent to the whole group.
   • If you have access to upload a file from Google Drive, you can submit a Google file by clicking the Google Drive.
     Note: If you want to submit a file that was previously uploaded, the file must already be in your user files. Group files cannot be accessed through assignment submissions.
5. Select comment option
   • If your assignment submission includes commenting options, each member of your group is being graded individually. If you want to add a comment, type your comment in the comment box.
   • To send your comment to your instructor, select Send comment to instructor only.
   • To send your comment to your instructor and all members of your group, select Send comment to the whole group.
6. Click the Submit Assignment button.

Note: When you resubmit an assignment, you can only access and view your most recent submission. However, instructors can view all of your submissions.

For more information see: How do I submit an assignment on behalf of a group?

How do I view my Canvas groups?

• In the left-side Navigation menu select People, then the Groups link. Note: If you do not see any groups listed, you have not joined a group or been enrolled in a group by your instructor. See How do I view all groups in a course as a student?

How do I join a group?

• If your instructor has enabled the self sign-up option, you can join a group of your choice. In the left-side Navigation menu, select People. Select the groups tab and next to the name of an available group, select the Join button. A lock icon displays when a group is full, unavailable, or invitation-only. Once you have selected a group, a message will appear at the top of your browser verifying you signed up for the group. To access the group you joined, select the Visit link. See How do I join a group as a student?

How do I create a group?

• As a student, you can create your own Student groups for study groups, discussions and assignment, etc. You can be part of more than one student group. In the left-side Navigation menu, select People, then select the Groups tab. Select the Add Group button. Name the group by entering a name in the Group Name field. Determine who can join the group by selecting the Joining drop-down menu and making a selection. To allow anyone in the course to join the group, select the Course Members are free to join option. To allow only specific people to join the group, select the Membership by invitation only option and then send group invitations to specific students who are enrolled in your course. See How do I create a group as a student?

How do I upload a file to a group?

• Select the tab for your group, then select Files from the left-side menu. The Files page displays all the files for the group. To add new files to the group, select the Upload button. Find the file you want to upload to the group and select the Open button. To view the uploaded file, you must set usage rights for the file before it can be published. Files that do not contain a usage right display as a warning icon. You can also do the following: Search for files by file name; add a folder; rename a file or folder; download a file or folder; move a file or folder; and delete a file or folder. Note: All members of your group hold the same permissions, so one group member can delete or move files uploaded by another group member. For more information see, How do I upload a file to a group?

How do I leave a group?

• If you were able to join a group in your course, you can leave the group at any time. You cannot leave groups that are not self sign-up groups or student groups that are by invitation only. In the Navigation menu, select the People link, then the Groups tab. Next to the name of an available group, select the Leave button. A message will appear at the top of your browser verifying you left the group.

How do I switch groups?

• If you are a member of a group that is part of a group set, you can leave your current group and join another group within the set. In the Navigation menu, select the People link, then the Groups tab. When multiple groups are within the same group set, you can switch groups to simultaneously leave your current group and join another group in the set. To switch to another group in the set, select the group Switch To button. A message will appear at the top of your browser verifying you joined the other group.

How do I manage groups as a student group leader?

• As a student group leader, you can help manage a group in a course. Group leaders may be automatically or manually assigned by your instructor. You will not receive any notification that you have been added as a group leader. To manage the group, from the Navigation menu, select People, then the Groups tab. To edit the group name, edit the text in the Group Name field. To add or remove group members, select the the checkboxes next to their names and when finished select the Submit button. To view the updated group  membership, select the group Expand icon. Note: The person icon indicates the group student leader.

• Canvas Student Guides
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• Chat with Canvas Support [Students]
• Canvas Guides Community Portal (external link) - Find articles to common questions