Faculty Tools

Messages

The Messages feature gives each course a private and secure system for communication that functions similar to email. Keep in mind that Messages cannot be sent or received outside of the users in the course.

Messages are usually accessed through the Communications area of a course. Although, as with most features, you can restrict access or change the layout of the Course Menu so that Messages are accessible directly.

New Message

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Messages link in the Course Tools section.
2. Click on the New Message button.
3. Click on the To button.
   
4. Click on the users name, then the right arrow.
5. Click on the Submit button.
   Note: Repeat for the CC and BCC buttons if needed.
6. Type the Subject in the Text field.
7. Type the Body of the item in the Text field.
8. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button

Inbox

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Messages link in the Course Tools section.
2. Click on the Inbox link.

Options:

• New Message – Create a new message.
• Mark Read – Select the check box next to the message to mark it as read.
• Mark Unread – Select the check box next to the message to mark it as unread.
• Remove – Select the check box next to the message to remove.

Sent

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Messages link in the Course Tools section.
2. Click on the Sent link.

Options:

• New Message – Create a new message.
• Mark Read – Select the check box next to the message to mark it as read.
• Mark Unread – Select the check box next to the message to mark it as unread.
• Remove – Select the check box next to the message to remove.

More Information

Q: Why would I want to use this tool?
A: At this current time I don't see a huge benefit. The Discussion tool is better to allow users to see the thread of the information and the Send Email lets you email users to the account they read. This tool requires people to choose to look and it doesn't tell the sender if the user read it or not.