Allow for student groups to be auto-generated using sections

[700958421]

This idea has been developed and deployed to Canvas

  Idea will be open for vote Wed. October 7, 2015 - Wed. January 6, 2016  Learn more about voting...

When creating a group set, you can let students join a group while setting a rule that forces them to stay within their section. This helps instructors teaching multiple sections of the same course who are looking for efficiency in managing student group work. See screenshot below.

The same option is not available when assigning students randomly. See screenshot below.

When selecting the option to split students in groups, a secondary option should allow you to restrict by section. In cases when students are a part of non-exclusive sections (lecture section and lab sections in the same site, for instance), a popup should appear asking how the random assignment should be done by selecting the sections.

  Comments from Instructure

For more information, please read through the Canvas Production Release Notes (2016-12-10)

[Renee_Carney]

This idea is now open for voting Wed. October 7, 2015 - Wed. January 6, 2015.

For more information on the voting process check out How does the voting process work for feature ideas?

[RobDitto]

Voted! It's wonderful that 700958421 envisioned how section boundaries/controls could be surfaced for random group creation within sections of a multi-section course site. This is a great companion idea to . Ideally, everyone interested would vote on both ideas.

[kristin_bayless]

This would be very helpful!  We crosslist sections and do not allow students access to create their own groups. This means teachers must create their own groups manually.  Having the group generator limit groups to individual sections would save the teachers so much time!

[debbie2]

Yes! In K-12 schools, this feature would be awesome and a huge help! With 155 students enrolled in 5 sections (class periods), it's not easy to manually assign students so that they are working with students in the same class period. If I assign a group project, I want my students to be able to communicate during class time as well as online.

[claire_skierski]

This is exactly the situation I am in.  This feature would be incredibly useful.

[hpalmersheim]

It looks like there was a similar request that is in gather info stage -

I agree that it would be extremely helpful for our middle and high school teachers. 

[Anna_Shaver]

Great idea.  You might also want to follow ​.  Really, there's no reason that groups shouldn't work more seamlessly with sections, and have more of their functionality.

[Renee_Carney]

Thank You for taking the time and energy to submit and discuss your idea. Your feedback helps our product teams prioritize feature development so we can build a product you will love. Unfortunately, this idea has been archived because it did not meet the 100-vote threshold within the 3-month voting period. Learn more at: How does the voting process work for feature ideas?

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[RobDitto]

This idea has resurfaced as " modifiedtitle="true" title="Automatically assign groups within sections of a course!​, opening for voting in July 2016.