Step-By-Step
Sending E-Mail
(Text version)

1. Instructors and TAs have the option to allow students to use a class-wide Blackboard e-mail interface. This allows students to e-mail Instructors, Teaching Assistants, Groups, other individual class members or everyone having an account on the course site. The e-mail function is only an e-mail interface. E-mails sent through this interface are sent to the recipient's regular e-mail address as listed on their Blackboard user account. There is no copy of any e-mail kept internally on the Blackboard course site, and recipients must access the e-mail from their regular e-mail client as they do any other e-mail sent to them

2. To access the E-Mail function:

• Log into the Blackboard course site as usual.
• Click on Communications / Send E-Mail. This opens the e-mail menu page.
• To send an e-mail to the entire class, Teaching Assistant and Instructor click on the "All Users" link.
• If your Instructor has created Blackboard class groups and you want to send an e-mail to all of the members of all groups, click on the "All Groups" link.
• To send an e-mail to all Teaching Assistants, click on the "All Teaching Assistants" link.
• To send an e-mail to all of the Instructors, click on the "All Instructors" link.
• To send an e-mail to selected members of the class, or teaching assistants or instructors, click on the "Select Users" link and checkmark the name of those you want to send an e-mail.
• To send and e-mail to selected Blackboard groups, click on the "Select Groups" link and checkmark the groups you wish to send an e-mail.
• Clicking on any of the links will display the e-mail form for the type you selected. Note that the names of the e-mail recipients are listed in the "To" portion of the e-mail form.
• Fill in a subject and message for the e-mail
• If you wish to attach a file to this e-mail click on the "add" button under section #2. This will display the "Add Attachment" form. To attach a file, click on the "Browse" button. This will display your computer's file locater dialogue box. Using the dropdown box on the top of the file locator, locate the directory and folder that contains the file you want to attach. Click on the name of the file then click on the "Open" button on the file locator. The locator dialogue box will disappear and the path to the file will be located in the box next to the "Browse" button. Click on the "Submit" button. This will attach the file to the e-mail and return you to the "Send Email" form
• Finally, Click on the "submit" button under section #3. A receipt will be displayed telling you that your e-mail has been sent.

3. When you send an e-mail via the e-mail function a copy of that e-mail is automatically sent to your own e-mail address as listed on your Blackboard user account.

4. Note that the Blackboard e-mail can be customized by the instructor or TA and therefore some of the functions noted may not be available to students.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Step-By-Step procedure contact the Tufts Blackboard Administrator at: nhirsig@tufts.edu