---
title: "Creating Group Discussions in Ultra Course View"
canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/TL/26785284128/Creating%20Group%20Discussions%20in%20Ultra%20Course%20View"
format: markdown
---
This article covers “Group discussions” in Ultra Course view. 

# **Overview**

Groups Discussions allow discussion with assigned group members rather than with the whole class. 

- Group discussions can be setup as gradable or non-gradable.
- All Discussions can become Group Discussions using the “Assign to groups” setting.
- Groups that will be used for the Group Discussions can be [created in advance](https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TL/pages/26052199835).  Pre-created groups should be set to “visible” so they can be selected from the Discussion assessment settings.

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# ** Video Instructions**

> Macro (iframe)

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# **Creating a New Discussion**

All discussions are created in the same way.  For comprehensive instructions on creating discussions and discussion settings, please see: [https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TL/pages/26052689938](https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TL/pages/26052689938) 

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# Setting Up Group Discussions

1. To turn a Discussion into a Group Discussion, click on the **Discussion Settings **gear icon.

![Screenshot of Blackboard gear button](media://85ab1097-7086-479a-92d6-72938232afb5)

2. Scroll down to **Additional Tools** and select **Assign to Groups**.

![Screenshot of Blackboard additional tools](media://ed234f7c-7b1a-4d30-bb40-59276ed11fdd)

3. Select the method you would like to group students in the discussion.
  1. From the “Group students” dropdown, you can create new “Custom” groups.
  2. Randomly assign students by the number of groups.
  3. Create Self-enrollment Discussion Groups.
  4. Or assign students to Groups that you have already created.  You will only be able to assign students to a pre-created Group Set that is “[visible to students](https://kb.uconn.edu/space/TL/26052199835/Creating+Groups+in+Ultra#Group-Visibility)”.

![Screenshot of Blackboard group types](media://62fbd68f-2f47-40b3-9de9-4d60bf0af967)

4. After the Grouping method has been selected, click **save**.

![Screenshot of Blackboard save button](media://1b9ffa1e-16d6-4cda-9520-091b83069347)

5. Lastly, click **Save **again to save the discussion settings.

![Screenshot of Blackboard save button](media://233aaf5c-16c0-42da-a806-af37ca3e4a54)

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> ℹ️ For more information or assistance with HuskyCT, please contact the** Educational Technology Office** at [edtech@uconn.edu](mailto:edtech@uconn.edu) or **(860) 486-5052 **