Avoiding duplicate effort in setting up group assignments

[henry_richardso]

In a class with 90 students, I want to create 18 groups that will each be given the same prompt, will each be asked to collaborate via a Google Doc, and will each have its own discussion board to facilitate their work.  Is there a way to do this without having to do the same three things 18 times?  I'd rather do 3 tasks than 54!!

[rmurchshafer]

I can answer some of this.  When you create the discussion go ahead and add the prompt to the directions box just below the title and select the option to make it a group discussion for the Group set with the 18 groups in it. It will create a separate discussion for each group and the directions (prompt) will be in each group.  If by prompt you mean an initial post; that would require you to go into each one, but I personally never use a Post as a prompt.  Just have the title and description of the discussion serve as the prompt.  

Regarding the Collaborative Google doc, you could start it for each of the 18 groups but it's going to be a blank document.  Maybe put it on them (each group) to have someone start the doc.  If you have a template you want them to use, put it into a Page in the course and tell the students to create a collaboration in their group and copy/paste from the template what you want them to start out with.

Rick

[henry_richardso]

Thanks, Rick.  Those are two great tips.  And I think I'll put it on them also to start discussions for their group.