Sending either an email or a message to your students through Blackboard is an effective way to communicate to your users. However, there are important differences between the two methods.

Sending an Email allows a user to send an email message to the class, to groups, or to individual users. The message goes to the external email address and is not contained within the Blackboard environment. All Mason students will receive Blackboard emails in their Mason student email accounts.

Sending a Message allows a user to send a message to the class or individual users. The message stays within the course and the Blackboard environment and does not go to the users' external email addresses. Users must be logged into myMason to send and view Messages.

Retrieving a Message can be done via the Home Page or under Updates.

To Send an Email

Step 1

From the Control Panel, select Course Tools then Send Email.

Step 2

Select the title of the users or group you wish to email (select single or select users will allow you to choose who you want to email).

Step 3

For individual or select users, move the names to the Selected box with the directional arrows.

Step 4

Enter your subject, compose your message, add attachments (optional)

Step 5

Press Submit.

To Send a Message

Step 1

From the Control Panel, select Course Tools then Course Messages.

Step 2

Select Create Message.

Step 3

Select To to see all the members of the class. Move the names to the Recipients box with the directional arrows.

Step 4

Select CC or BCC to send a copy of the message to other users.

Step 5

Enter your Subject, compose your message,  and add attachments (optional).

Step 6

Press Submit.

Retrieve a Message

Alerts for Course Messages can be seen in the course Home Page What's New module

and in the user's Profile under Updates.