Creating groups independently of a FELIX course

FELIX 20-010

What you need to know

Digital groups can exist within a FELIX course or independently of a course.

Digital groups enable cooperation and collaboration between registered members.
In addition to the organization and communication of appointments, the exchange of information and files, members can also work together on files (see Internal link opens in the same window:Groups in a course - working cooperatively and collaboratively, Helpcard: 20-011 from step 6).
You can also use a digital group to
... limit the number of participants in a course (please follow Internal link opens in the same window:Inserting an enrolment element (access to a course with a limited number of participants), Helpcard 30-010)
... make course elements visible or accessible depending on the group (e.g. only for group A of study programme X, only for group B of study programme Y).

This helpcard describes how to create a group outside of a course and equip it with tools. You can link this group to a course at any time.

What you have to do

  1. Click in the "Groups" tab above.

    • Your group overview will open.

    • Under "My groups" you will find all the groups you are registered in or have created. You can make important groups favorites by marking the flag at the front of the list.

  2. Click on "Create Group" on the top right to create a new group.

    • The "Create new group" window will open.

  3. Give the group a name.

    • If you want to link the group to a course, use the course title (without semester) as the group name, since students often access the courses via the groups. Below the description you have the possibility to limit the number of participants, to set a waiting list and to allow automatic moving up.

  4. Click on "Finish".

    • The created group will open.

  5. Click on "Administration" in the menu on the left.

    • In the "Description" tab you can change the name of the group and copy the link to it.

    • In the "Tools" tab you can equip the group with various tools, for example:
      - Information to members (Create message to members of the group, e.g. work order)
      - E-mail: Allows you to reach members of the group via email.
      - Calendar: Used for common organisation of the group.
      Note: By default, only you have write permission for the "Information to members", "Email" and "Calendar" tools.
      - Folder: Central collection point and exchange of files that are either uploaded or created directly in the folder via OnlyOffice (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) (see Internal link opens in the same window:Using the OnlyOffice Document editor, Helpcard 20-120).
      - Forum: For online discussions.

    • In the "Members" tab, you can set in the "Display members", for example, that members can see participants. You can also add or remove participants and change roles here.

    • In the "Courses" tab, the created group can be assigned to a course.

    • In the “Share” tab, you can select an access code as the access method for the group.

    • For data protection reasons, we strongly advise against selecting the option “Share” > “Freely available,” as this would allow all FELIX users to join the group, view data and members, and, depending on the settings, also edit them.

    • Other FELIX users can join your group if you......

      …either add them manually in the “Members” tab,...

      …select the “Access code” booking method in the “Share” tab so that other FELIX users can book the group.

      ... add the group to a course using the “Enrollment” module, allowing participants to enroll in the group themselves via the course (see Internal link opens in the same window:Using enrollment for grouping, Helpcard “FELIX 30-015).

  6. Close the group by clicking the cross (top right).

    • You can find and manage the new group in the main menu under "Groups".

    • If you select the group with a check mark in front of its name, you can "Duplicate" it (above the displayed table). Thus you can copy groups (e.g. including the created tools and the display of the members).

Problems or questions?