1. Working in Groups in Canvas
Group Work
Working in Groups in Canvas

2. Why Work in Groups? To work effectively in a team environment
To learn how to communicate and problem solve as a team
To learn how to work on a group project that mirrors real world experience
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

3. What you will do as a group:
Contribute to group graded and non-graded discussions
Work as a team to create a group proposal
Create a group work plan
Create a group contract
Create a schedule
Assign individual tasks
Collaborate to create a draft and final
Duplicate this slide as necessary if there is more than one issue.
This and related slides can be moved to the appendix or hidden if necessary.

4. Group Work Plan Strategy Explanation Group Response
Choose a Group Name
Work together to come up with a group name. Enter your group name to the right.
Create Group Contract
Work together to create a set of rules that you will agree on and follow to avoid conflict, ensure participation, and set a positive tone for your entire project.
Set Group Roles
Each member of the group will have certain skills or knowledge that can help the group. Some will be good at helping the group stay on task, others will be great at helping the group members interact in positive ways, etc. Note that all of you will be researchers and writers but other roles might include organizer, editor, connector, recorder, etc. Enter your group roles and descriptions to the right.
Acknowledge Interdependence
Each member of the group should be dependable and be held accountable for his or her participation in and contribution to the group. How will you all ensure that everyone participates and contributes and what strategies will you use to deal with non-participating members, conflicts, and decision making? Enter this information to the right.

5. Group Work Plan (Continued)
Establish Communication P;am
You will all need to communicate with each other to complete the project. Decide what tools you will use to do this, exchange contact and schedule information, and set synchronous group meeting times. Add this information in the box to the right.
Determine Other Collaboration Tools
Depending upon what your final project is, you may need to create a document or a presentation. What tools will you use to create your final project and how will you use them together? Enter this information to the right.
Set Milestones and Deadlines
Review the project criteria to see when any items are due. Then, break those assignments into smaller chunks and determine who, when, and how each will be completed. Add this info to the block on the right.

6. Group Milestones Major Group Project Milestones April 7 – May 4
Date
Assign Groups
April 8
Group Discussion #10
April 13
Topic Chosen from Presentations
Group Contract Written
Roles Defined and Outlined
Conduct Research
April 19
Draft Report Due
April 20
Edit Draft Week
April 21-27
Submit Final Proposed Report
May 4
* If any of these issues caused a schedule delay or need to be discussed further, include details in next slide.

7. Major Milestones Group Contract/Select Topic Date 1 Conduct Research
Compose Full Draft
Date 3
Revise Draft
Date 4
Final Draft
Date 5
Major Milestones
The following slides show several examples of timelines using SmartArt graphics.
Include a timeline for the project, clearly marking milestones, important dates, and highlight where the project is now.

8. How do you get to your group?
Through Courses & Groups
Through “I have an Idea – Part II”

9. Group Work Area

10. What you can do…
Send announcements to entire group through Announcements.
Create resources using Pages.
See who is in your group through People.
Contribute to your group discussions through Discussions.
Upload files accessible to everyone in your group through Files.
Schedule and conduct live web conference meetings using Conferences.
Use Google Docs to upload a draft so members can comment using Collaborations.

11. About Google Docs (Optional)
In order to use Google Docs:
Your entire group would have to agree to use Google Docs.
Each member must have a gmail account.
Each member must register his/her gmail account through the Canvas global Settings. You will need to enter gmail login and password.
Google Docs is a tool available through Gmail that allows a group of people to edit a single document. All comments are color coded by user so it is clear who made changes. In addition, a history is stored. In Canvas, you can get to Google Docs through Collaborations. One person creates the starting document and then invites all others to the group. Use of Google Docs is completely optional. Your group can decide
to use some other method for collaborating/reviewing the group report.

12. Working in Groups English 203
This template can be used as a starter file to give updates for project milestones.
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English 203