M13b - How group modes affect different activities

M13b - How group modes affect different activities

Each Moodle resource and activity allows you to define a group mode under 'Common module settings'. Three settings are possible, No groups, visible groups and separate groups, although there is often no difference in functionality between 'visible groups' and 'separate groups' in many activities.

For some activities, such as forums, wikis, chats and choices, the functionality does change according to the setting that is chosen.  The group mode has no affect for resources.

The table below outlines how it affects activities.

 

No groups

Visible groups

Separate groups

 

No groups

Visible groups

Separate groups

assignment

(individual)

The assignment will be available to all students but they can only see their own submissions.

Tutors will view all student assignment submissions as a list.

(See below for assignments that have group submission enabled).

Within Moodle assignments students can only see their own submissions.

Tutors will be able to select and view the submissions of all students, or individual groups (via a drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B) 
Note:  There is no difference for the tutor if they use separate or visible groups. 

Advantage: Useful when different tutors mark assignments from a selected group only

< same as visible groups...

 

assignment

(group submission)

Group submission is enabled and managed via the assignment setting 'Group submission settings'.

When group submission is enabled, the assignment can be edited up until submission by a student (usually on behalf of the entire group, whereby the submission will appear listed against all members of the same group).

Tutors will view all students’ assignment submissions as a list. Submissions cannot be filtered by group when ‘No groups’ is specified within the Group mode setting under 'Common module settings'.

 

Group submission is enabled and managed via the assignment setting 'Group submission settings'.

Students see their group name and their group's submission only.

The assignment can be edited up until submission by a student (usually on behalf of the entire group, whereby the submission will appear listed against all members of the same group).

When group mode is enabled via the Group mode setting under 'Common module settings' tutors can filter submissions by groups.

Marks and feedback are distributed to all members of the group by default. There is also the option to provide individual students within a group a specific mark or feedback.

<same as visible groups…

Turnitin assignment

Tutors will view all students’ assignment submissions as a list.

Tutors can filter assignments by group.

< same as visible groups

 

 

forum

 

 

The forum postings (discussion) will be available to all students.

Tutors see all the discussion posts in one list and can't filter them.

Students have the option to view forum posting (discussions) of their group as well other groups. They can only post to their own group or to 'all participants'.
A drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows students to navigate between groups. 
Students can post to: 
-  All participants (posting will be available to all) 
- Their group only (posting will be available to their group members) 

Tutors have the option to view forum postings (discussion) in different ways. 
(a drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B) 
Tutors can post to: 
-  All participants (posting will be available to all) 
- Individual groups

Only students who belong to the same group will see each other's postings.

Tutors have the option to view forum postings (discussion) in different ways. A drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows tutors to navigate between groups. 

chat

Students can converse with any other student or tutor in the course.

Each group member can discuss in their own group chat but can also view other group conversations.

Tutors will see the discussions of all participants. 
Tutors have options to select and view responses of different groups.

A drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows students and tutors to navigate between groups .

Each group member can only see their own group chat, others are invisible.

 Tutors will see the discussions of all participants. 
Tutors have options to select and view responses of different groups.

 A drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows tutors to navigate between groups. 

 

choice

&

group choice

Students and tutors will see the responses of all participants.

Students will see the responses of their own group as well as the other groups. A drop-down menu allows students to filter to show only one group at a time, or all participants.

Tutors will see the responses of all participants. 
Tutors have options to select and view responses of different groups.

NB Limiting the number of students per choice option when group modes are applied will apply per group. For example, if you have limited a choice to one student and have four groups set-up it will be possible for 4 students to take that choice, one from each group.

Students will see the responses of their group only.

Tutors will see the responses of all participants, with the option to filter by group too.

wiki (individual)

There is only one wiki. The teacher and all students can view and edit this wiki.

Every student has their own wiki, which only they and their teacher can edit. Students can view the wikis of all other students in the course.

A drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows students and tutors to navigate between groups. 

Every student has their own wiki, which only they and their tutor can edit. Students can view the wikis of other students in their group.

A drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows tutors to navigate between groups. 

wiki (collaborative)

There is only one wiki. The teacher and all students can view and edit this wiki.

There is one wiki per group. Students can change the wiki of their own group only. They can view the wikis for all groups. Tutors can edit any group's wiki pages.

A drop-down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows students and tutors to navigate between groups. 

There is one wiki per group. Students can view and edit the wiki of their own group only. Tutors can edit any group's wiki pages. A drop down menu with options: All participants, group A, group B, etc... allows tutors to navigate between groups. 

quiz

Tutors will view all students’ assignment submission as a list.

Students only see their own quiz attempts and feedback, depending on the Review options which determine what the quiz allows them to see, and when.

Tutors can filter quiz results by group.

Students only see their own quiz attempts and feedback. When students see their quiz grade and feedback is dependent upon the Review options which determine what details they can see, and when.

< same as visible groups

workshop

Tutors will view all students’ workshop submissions as a list.

Students are allocated to mark work of other students within their own group, unless the Prevent Reviews setting is checked in the random/scheduled allocation settings. If the Prevent Reviews setting is checked students of the same group never review each other’s work, as most likely it is their work too in a group submission. Moodle will ensure that they are only allocated other students out of their own group’s work to access.

< same as visible groups

database

Students and tutors will see the responses of all participants.

Students will see the entries added to their own group as well as the other groups. A drop-down menu allows students to filter to show only one group at a time, or all participants.

Students will see the entries added to their group only.

Tutors will see the responses of all participants, with the option to filter by group too.

scheduler

Students see all slots for all tutors on the course.

Tutors see all the slots for themselves and other tutors, and they see all the students enrolled on the course.

Tutors only see their own slots and students in the same groups as them.

Students see slots for any tutors in their groups.

< same as visible groups

SCORM package

 

Each group member works in their own group but can see other groups.

Each group member can only see their own group, other groups are invisible.

 

See our wiki guide for an overview of Digital Assessment

Not available:

Related content