WebCT Communication Tools

Using WebCT Email

The email tool provided by WebCT creates a means for students and instructors to stay in touch, exchange information and manage that correspondence within WebCT. The advantage to using WebCT email is that you know all email related to a course is in one location, not mixed in with your personal or work-related email.

You will find that the email tool is very similar to the Discussions tool, including a similar interface and following the same conventions. With that in mind, the focus here is on some features specific to email with only quick references to those features that are identical in discussions.

The folders provided for you initially (All, Inbox, Outbox, and Draft) cannot be deleted or renamed. The Outbox holds all the emails you have sent in the course. The Draft folder holds emails you have saved without sending-perhaps to send at a later time. The All folder contains all emails—those sent, received, and waiting in drafts.

1. Compose Mail Message
2. Manage Messages
3. Manage Settings
4. Manage Folders

Compose Mail Message

Composing mail messages is very similar to composing discussion board posts. You can review the information about creating discussion postings if you need a reminder. See the graphic below and associated information for additional reminders and features specific to the Email tool.

To compose a message click on the Compose Mail Message button. The Compose Mail Message screen appears.

1. Browse: To choose the recipients of your message you can type in their WebCT user names or just Browse the user list and select students from it.
   1. Click on the Browse button.
   2. Click on the name of the student to which you would like to send an email.
   3. If you would like to email multiple students, then hold the Control key down on your keyboard (on a PC) as you click on the names with your mouse.
   4. Once you have selected all your intended recipients, click on the Done button above the student list.
   5. You will be returned to the Compose screen where you should see all the recipients listed in the Send to area.
2. Equation Editor: Just as in the discussion tool, you can include mathematical equations in your communications by using the editor.
3. Attachments: Again, just as in the discussions tool, you can attach documents to your messages.
4. Attach file: Remember to click this button after you have browsed for and uploaded any desired attachments.
5. Save draft: This option allows you to retain an email for sending in the future. It will save the email to the Draft folder.
6. Preview: This function allows you to see the email you've composed as your recipient will see it. Remember that to create space between paragraphs you must use a double return.
7. Send: Send delivers your email to the designated recipients.

Manage Mail Messages

Much like in the Discussion area, you can move messages from one folder to another, delete selected messages, delete all messages in a selected folder, or delete all messages in the course.

Manage Settings

The most important feature on this screen is the ability to allow users to input their external email addresses and have their WebCT email forwarded to it should they choose. Additionally, you can enter your email address to have messages forwarded from WebCT to an external email account. One warning in doing so is that you will not be able to reply to those messages forwarded to the external account. You will have to log into WebCT to reply to students. The external forwarding feature primarily serves as an alert that you have mail and delivers the text of any messages. NOTE:The "mail forwarding" function of WebCT is not enabled at this time pending a system administration investigation.

Manage Folders

Use the Actions menu on the right to manage your mail messages. You can create folders to suit your organizational needs such as "Assignments." You can also delete folders and rename folders.