Q: I have a conflict with group members in a Quercus group. One assignment has been submitted but not graded. How can I move this student from one group to another? When I tried to do it, the following message appeared. Which option do I choose to change the student’s group without affecting anyone’s work?
A: You can change group membership mid-semester, but if you do this after group work has been submitted, it may impact existing submissions. As you saw, when you try to move a student, you’ll see a warning message with two options.
- Create New Group Set: This option duplicates the existing group set and applies the new group memberships only to future assignments.
- Change Existing Group: This option modifies current group memberships without creating a new group set.
The message will also warn that this change might affect existing group submissions, annotations, and comments – below you’ll find steps to help you choose the best options for your situation:
How do I decide which option to go with?
First, you will need to decide which option will suit your course, here’s what to consider:
- If most group assignments are done: Choose Create New Group Set to preserve past submissions and grades. Name the new set clearly and update each upcoming assignment to use it.
- If many group assignments remain in the course: Change Existing Group might be easier. You won’t need to update each assignment, but there’s a risk of impacting past work.
Tip: If you’re unsure which option to choose, we usually recommend Creating a New Group Set, as it preserves past submissions and grades while only affecting future work.
If you choose “Change Existing Group”
If you decide that Changing Existing Group is a better fit for your course’s current needs, follow these steps BEFORE you update group memberships to minimize any effects on completed work:
- Grade any work from completed group assignments.
- In the Assignment Settings, check Assign Grades to Each Student Individually.
- Select Save to finalize the change.
- Repeat this process for every completed group assignment.
For step-by-step instructions and additional guidance (including troubleshooting common issues) please refer to our guide: How do I make changes to group membership during the course?
For questions or assistance with managing groups and group assignments in your course, please contact the EdTech Office or book a consultation.