This information applies only to the Ultra Course View.

This information applies only to the Ultra experience.

Group discussions

In the Ultra Course View, your instructor may create groups or ask you to join a group for group discussions. Your instructor may grade your contributions.

To open a discussion, select the Discussions tab on the navigation bar in your course. Select the discussion from the list that appears.

Your instructor may also place discussions alongside other course materials on the Course Content page.

Image of Course Content page with boxes highlighting Discussions tab in navigation bar and Group Discussion item listed in course area.

How do I know I'm in a group?

On the Course Content and Discussions pages, your group name is listed after the group discussion title. The name of your group appears when you open the discussion, along with the list of your group members.

When asked to join a group for group discussions, you may see an enrollment period. You need to join a group before the deadline. If you haven't joined a group, you're notified when the enrollment deadline approaches.

You can also see if the enrollment period isn't open yet or has closed. Contact your instructor if you didn't join a group by the enrollment deadline.

image of Course Content Area with two rows listing Group Discussion activities. A call-out arrow points to the group name or “Join a group to participate” link in the rows.

Select the Join a group to participate link to access the Groups page. If you select the group discussion title, a page opens with details and links to join a group. You can't participate until you join a group.

Image of Group Discussion page with a highlight box around “Join a group to participate” link in Details & Information section

Groups page

The groups you can join appear on the Groups page. Based on your instructor's settings, you might see Show Members links that display the names of other members who joined before you. In the Number of students column, you can see how many members are allowed to join each group. Your instructor may allow all students to join all groups. For example, your instructor may allow you to join multiple groups to discuss specific social issues.

After you join a group, Joined appears in that row. You can move to another group while the enrollment period is open. You can’t join or move to groups that have submitted work or have reached the maximum number of members.

image of Self-enroll page with arrow pointing to “Show Members” link

If you can’t join any group or the enrollment deadline has passed, contact your instructor.

On the left, the student's Group details section is open with the list of self-enrollment groups available to join. On the right, the list of self-enrollment groups shows 1) the message "Joined" in one group and 2) the option "Move to this group" in the groups available to join.

After you join a group, you can view your group activity and participate.

Graded group discussions

If you see grading information in the discussion details, your participation is graded. Your instructor assigns a grade for your participation in the discussion as a whole, not for each individual post. If your instructor associated a rubric with the discussion, select This item is graded with a rubric to display more information. You can view the grading criteria before you contribute.

image of Group Discussion page with members posting and replying to the discussion question. A box is highlighting the Details & Information section of the page

View activity

Each time you open a discussion, new responses and replies are highlighted to show any activity that's happened after you last visited. You can also use the Refresh icon at the top of the discussion to load any responses or replies that your group members may have posted after you opened the discussion.

You can post a response to the initial prompt or reply to your group member's responses. If you want to revisit your responses and replies before you post, you can select Save Draft.