Mail
Mail (or email) allows private messages to be sent from one user to another. More specifically, the mail tool provides students and instructors the ability to send and receive messages, reply to and forward messages, organize messages into folders, attach files to messages, and delete messages. E-learning course mail is a course-contained communication tool; i.e., the mail options function only within each individual e-learning course. Additionally, all mail is private; i.e., the instructor does not have access to the mail of any student.
You will need to know how to use the mail tool to send private messages to your instructor (e.g., questions about course assignments). Additionally, your instructors may use the mail tool to send private messages to you about your performance in the course. Note: Uses and application of the mail tool will vary from course to course. The following illustrations will demonstrate the various functionalities of the mail tool.
You may also watch a 3.5 minute instructional video by clicking the video camera icon:
Step 1: Under Course Tools, select Mail (see figure below).
Step 2: From the main Mail page, click the Create Message button (see figure below).
Step 3: A new window should appear (see figure below).
Step 4: Click the Browse for Recipients button. Another window appears (see figure below) with the names of the course members (students and instructor). Select the check box next to each recipient's name in either the To, CC (carbon copy), or BCC (blind carbon copy) column. You may also select the boxes in the blue shaded lines under the 'Select Individuals and Groups' to send a mail message to everyone in the course including the instructor. Once you have selected all recipients, click the Save button.
Step 5: The list of recipients closes, and you will return to the Create Message window with your list of recipients displayed (see figure below).
Step 6: Type a subject for your mail message in the Subject text box.
Step 7: Click in the Message text box and type your message. If your message is very important, you may wish to check the 'High priority' box. Note: You may format your message using the HTML editor and/or add a mathematical equation by clicking the icon next to Insert equation.
Step 8: (OPTIONAL) You may add one or more attachments to your message by clicking the Add Attachments button.
Step 9: At the bottom of the Create Message window, you will notice four buttons: Send, Preview, Cancel, and Save as Draft. You can click the Preview button to preview your message before sending it. The Cancel button cancels your message. Save as Draft allows you to save your message and send it at a later date. The Send button will immediately send your message to the recipients with a copy saved in the Sent Mail folder, and return you to the main Mail page.
Step 1: Access the main Mail page.
Step 2: Select and open the folder that contains the messages you wish to read (e.g. Inbox). Messages in that folder now appear in the frame on the right side of the browser window (see figure below). Note: Subject headings in bold text are marked unread, and subject headings in plain text are marked read. You can mark messages as either read or unread by checking the boxes next to the appropriate subject headings, and clicking either the Read or Unread buttons.
Step 3: Select the subject link of the message you wish to read. The message will appear in a new window (see figure below). Under the text, you will see five buttons: Reply, Reply to All, Forward, Print, or Delete. Click the Reply button to reply to the message sender. Note: The Create Message window appears with the Subject text box of the message already filled in. See page 3 if you need assistance creating a reply message. Click Reply to All to reply to the message sender AND all message recipients. Click Forward to forward this message to new recipients. Click Print to print this message. Click Delete to permanently delete this mail message. If you do not wish to do anything with the message, click the Close this window link to return to the main Mail page.
