Establishing online groups can promote collaboration and allows the instructor more flexibility because many online learning activities do not work well with large numbers of participants. Groups also allow students an opportunity to establish a closer relationship with a few members of the class, promoting further interaction in online discussions.

However, dividing students into online groups can present some unique challenges for both the instructor and team members. Communicating over a distance can lead to misunderstandings and misconceptions, which may cause some team members to feel left out. Most important, student teams can encounter major difficulties in organizing and working effectively together.

To maximize the benefits and minimize the drawbacks of online groups, the instructor must take an active role in setting up online groups. The instructor should ensure students understand the ground rules for group interaction and the time it will take for them to figure out the best way to work together online.

The follow sections provide information and instructions that make it easier in managing online groups:

1. Building Effective Teams
2. Blackboard Group Tools
3. Managing Group Interaction with Blackboard