📖 Group Guide: Building Group Activities for M2 on the Web

Group Guide has replaced Workspaces (you can learn more about M2's evolution with our 🚀  Product Updates) 

This is the companion article to: 📖 Group Guide Set Up on M2. Guided Mode in M2 allows students to use the device independently while ensuring their activity is recorded through transcription for the teacher. At the same time, access to teacher-only features is restricted. This mode is designed to create student activities with minimal actions required from the teacher; however, when you already have great activities planned and simply want to launch them on M2 during class with no setup whatsoever, or you want to see a preview of step-by-step experience students have in Practice or Project Modes, you can customize your Group activities on MirrorTalk on the web ahead of time.

Getting Started:

1. On MirrorTalk, head to your Library via the shortcut on the left sidebar. (You will also find old workspaces archived here, too, if you scroll to the bottom).

2. Click “Custom” -> then select Group Guide.

Select the type of Group Guide and activity you want students to participate in:

Group Guide Selection

There are two types of Group Guide:

• Whole Group: Whole Group Guides include directions and activities that are suited for a whole-class or larger group learning experience. For example, students may be instructed to complete one task individually, then turn and talk with a partner, then return to their individual work. The Whole Group Guide offers such activities as Instructional Strategy, Practice, and Project (see descriptions for each activity below).

• Small Group: Small Group Guides let you assign an activity to specific students rather than the entire class. You can individually select which participants to include, giving you greater flexibility for targeted instruction, intervention, or differentiated support. The Small Group Guide offers such activities as Q&A, Practice, and Project (see descriptions for each activity below).

Once you have selected the type of Group Guide, choose the activity you would like to customize. We offer four learning modes, each designed to support different types of classroom activities.

• Instructional Strategy (can be set up only on M2 device) offers teachers a research-backed way to elevate classroom learning in real time. M2 analyzes the lesson context and identifies whether students need support, re-engagement, or a deeper challenge, then generates a Whole Group guide built around an evidence-based learning approach. The teacher follows short, step-by-step prompts that help students practice memory retrieval, make connections, or think more deeply with minimal setup.

• Q&A is best for quick exchanges, where students can ask questions or make statements, and teachers receive a transcription and highlights of the discussion.

• Practice guides students through step-by-step problem solving (such as math or science tasks) with multiple directions and opportunities to show their work.

• Project is designed for longer, more complex projects. Students work through several directions and then give one final recorded presentation at the end.

MirrorTalk will immediately begin analyzing your objective and provide a suggested activity that you can further edit as needed.

Simply check the pencil icon in the field: “What do you want the participants to accomplish, and what materials or resources will they use to do it?” to make any edits or adjustments to the output.

To change a specific step in "Practice" or "Project" mode, click the field to edit the text. To reorder a step, use the reorder icon on the left-hand side and drag it into the appropriate place.

When you're satisfied with the activity, click “Save to Library." Head to your M2 device to locate the activity.

Launching the Group Guide Activity on M2

Once a Group Guide activity is saved to your Library, you can launch it in class on your M2 once you have started a Personal Session (learn more here: 📖 M2 Session: Start Your AI Co-Teacher Flow and Get Personalized Feedback).

Then tap “Group Guide” at the bottom of the active Personal Session screen. 

Tap the Library icon, and you’ll see your most recent Group Guide activities at the top. 

Tap “Launch" on the selected activity. 

When students are ready to begin the activity, they will tap “Start” at the bottom.