How do I assign students to a topic?

[mmarvin]

We would like an easy solution for assigning topics to students or for students to select a topic. We have been using groups and embedding google forms. However, these solutions are time-consuming for the course producer and confusing for new students. The following are examples:

• Select a supplement to research (each supplement may only be researched by 2 students)
• For this project, you will divide into teams to address the situation described in the case study. Join a group. Each group should have three to four students, depending on class size.
• Interview a classmate. You are assigned to interview ____.

I am looking for a simple but creative way to assign a student to a topic and for students to select a topic.

[kona]

What if you used groups in Canvas? You could create a group for each topic/resource and set it so that only X students could sign up for each group or you could also assign students to a topic by adding them to the group for that topic.

Here are the guides on groups and how to use them - Canvas Groups

[tracy_stuntz]

I'm seconding this. Having self-selected groups even saves more time.

Just be aware - online assignment submissions that are created as "Group" assignments only allow 1 student per group to submit.

[surrencm]

In a course we just developed for January, students have to select 2 Case Brief Topics to work on throughout the course.  We created a Wiki (Content) Page in Canvas that students are allowed to edit.  There is a table we created with the different Case Briefs the students can choose from, and they simply add their name in the table.  We provide instructions for them on how to edit and save it etc.  If for some reason something is messed up, the instructor can always view the Page History and revert back if necessary.  Granted, this is for individual work, but the concept of students selecting their topic applies.

Hope that helps.

Monica

[Robbie_Grant]

 @mmarvin ,

We are giving the Instructional Designers area a little bit of love and just want to check in with you.  This will also bring this question new attention. 

Were you able to find an answer to your question? I am going to go ahead and mark this question as answered because there hasn't been any more activity in a while so I assume that you have the information that you need. If you still have a question about this or if you have information that you would like to share with the community, by all means, please do come back and leave a comment.  Also, if this question has been answered by one of the previous replies, please feel free to mark that answer as correct.

Robbie