Create and Edit Groups and Groupings in Moodle

When teaching a course with multiple sections, especially when a course has a large number of students, using groups makes it much easier to filter student data. Multi-section courses (Meta-linked courses) automatically have groups created for each section, which you can use in addition to, or instead of, your own custom groups.

Enable Group or Grouping Mode

What is the difference between a Group and a Grouping? In a nutshell, groupings are clusters of groups.

One metaphor that has worked well in training is this: At the Olympics, there are many sports—gymnastics, swimming, track—and many countries. In this way, there are two levels of being categorized as an Olympian: by your sport, and by your nationality. To be on the United States Olympic Team, you must first be a swimmer, a gymnast, a runner, etc.; you cannot be on the US Team without first being an athlete in a certain sport. Your sport is your group. Your country is your grouping. You must belong to a group before joining a grouping.

For a single course, most instructors only need to create groups. Meta-linked course (multiple merged courses) are automatically divided in to groups by section. 

To use group filtering, create groups in your course and then enable the group mode in your course settings.

Create Groups in Your Course

1. From your course, select the gear icon > More... > Users > Groups. 
2. Select the Groups tab > Create group button.  Type Group name and save changes.  Repeat for each group.
3. In the Groups Box, highlight the group you want to add student to, then select the Add/remove users button below the Members of: Box.
4. The Add/remove users screen opens.  Add or remove students to the group. Then select button Back to Group.

Create Groupings in Your Course

1. Students must first be in groups in order to be added to a grouping.
2. From your course, select the gear icon > More... > Users > Groups. 
3. Select the Grouping tab > Create grouping button.  Type Grouping name and save changes.  Repeat for each grouping.
4. In the Grouping Box edit column, select the person icon, then select groups to the groupings from the Members Box.
5. Once groupings are finished select the button Back to Group.