Canvas Groups

To use Canvas Groups effectively for Group Projects, you can:

Create Group Sets: Start by creating a Group Set in your course. This is a collection of groups that you can use for specific purposes, such as a project or assignment. You can manually assign students to groups, let Canvas automatically distribute them, or allow students to choose their own groups.

Collaborative Tools: Use the collaborative tools available in Canvas Groups, such as file sharing, discussions, and messaging. These tools enable students to communicate, share resources, and work together efficiently

Group Assignments: Set up group assignments where each group submits a single project. Canvas allows you to grade these assignments collectively, providing shared feedback to all group members

Monitor Progress: Instructors can monitor group activities, provide guidance, and intervene if necessary. This helps keep students on track and ensures that the project progresses smoothly

Feedback and Reflection: Encourage groups to reflect on their collaboration and provide feedback on each other's contributions. This can be done through peer reviews or group discussions

Canvas Groups can be effectively used for organising and delivering group presentations.

They can help with:

Forming Groups: Create a Group Set in your course and assign students to groups based on the presentation topics. You can manually assign students, let Canvas automatically distribute them, or allow students to choose their own group.

Collaborative Workspace: Each group has its own workspace where members can share files, collaborate on documents, and communicate through discussions and messaging. This helps them organise their presentation materials and coordinate their efforts.

Preparation and Practice: Groups can use their workspace to prepare and practice their presentations. They can share resources, create slides, and rehearse their delivery. This collaborative environment ensures that all members contribute and refine their presentation.

Submission and Feedback: Set up group assignments for the presentations. Each group can submit their final presentation through Canvas, and you can provide collective feedback to all group members. This helps streamline the grading process and ensures that feedback is shared equally.

Monitoring Progress: Instructors can monitor group activities, provide guidance, and intervene if necessary. This oversight helps keep students on track and ensures that the presentation progresses smoothly

Canvas Groups are a great tool for organising study groups. Here are some steps and tips to make the most of this feature for Study Groups:

Creating Study Groups: Instructors or students can create Group Sets specifically for study groups. You can manually assign students to groups, let Canvas automatically distribute them, or allow students to choose their own groups.

Collaborative Workspace: Each study group has its own workspace where members can share notes, collaborate on documents, and communicate through discussions and messaging. This helps them organise their study materials and coordinate their efforts.

Discussion Boards: Use group-specific discussion boards to facilitate conversations about course material, ask questions, and share insights. This encourages active participation and deeper understanding.

File Sharing: Members can upload and share files, such as lecture notes, study guides, and resources, making it easier to access and review important information.

Peer Support: Study groups provide a platform for peer support, where students can help each other with challenging concepts, quiz each other, and prepare for exams together.

Canvas Groups can be effectively used for peer reviews, providing a structured way for students to evaluate each other's work. Here are some steps and tips to make the most of this feature:

Creating Peer Review Assignments: Instructors can create assignments that require peer reviews. Canvas allows you to manually assign peer reviews or automatically distribute them among students. You can also choose to make peer reviews anonymous to ensure unbiased feedback.

Using Group Assignments: Peer reviews can be integrated into group assignments, where students review the work of their peers within their group or across different groups. This helps students learn from each other and improve their work through constructive feedback.

Feedback and Reflection: Encourage students to provide detailed feedback and reflect on their peers' contributions. This can be done through comments and rubrics, which help structure the review process.

Integrating BuddyCheck Software

BuddyCheck is a peer evaluation tool that can be integrated with Canvas to enhance the peer review process. Here are some benefits and usage tips:

Automated Peer Evaluations: BuddyCheck simplifies peer assessments by automating the process. It collects scores and feedback from students on their own and their peers' contributions to group work.

Personalised Feedback: The software provides personalised feedback based on peer evaluations, helping students understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

Fair Assessment: BuddyCheck uses peer scores to calculate individual weightings for group submissions, making the assessment of group work fairer through increased accountability.

Integration with Canvas: BuddyCheck can be seamlessly integrated into Canvas, allowing instructors to create evaluations, monitor progress, and release results directly within Canvas. 

By combining Canvas Groups with BuddyCheck, you can create a robust peer review system that enhances collaboration, provides valuable feedback, and ensures fair assessment.