Blackboard Vista: Using the Mail Tool

Step 1: Accessing the Mail tool

1. From the Build or Teach tab, in the “Course Tools” area, click the Mail tool. The Inbox screen is displayed.

Step 2: Create a Mail Message

1. Click Create Message. The Create Message window is displayed.

Step 3: Browse for Recipients

1. Click Browse for Recipients. The Select Message Recipients window is displayed. You can select to send the message to everyone enrolled in a particular role (illustrated in next step).

Step 4: Choose Recipients

1. To send the email to all students, in the “Select Roles” area, in the “All Students” row, select To.
   
   NOTE: To send the email to specific students, in the “Select Individuals and Groups” area, click the appropriate box for the appropriate students.
   
2. Click Save. The Create Message window is displayed.
   
   NOTE: The people you have added are displayed below the To, CC or BCC text boxes. Each entry has a person with a negative sign in a red box icon. Use this icon to remove people from the list (not illustrated).

Step 5: Create the Message

1. In the “Subject” text box, type a short description about what the email pertains to. In this example, we have used Comments on Famous Greeks Quiz.
2. If you want to send the message as high priority, check High priority.
3. In the “Message” area, type the contents of the message. In this example, we used Comments are included with your quizzes.
   
   NOTE: In the “HTML Creator” area, you can select On to use it.

Step 6: Adding Attachments

1. In the “Attachments” area, click Add Attachments. The Get Files dialog box is displayed.

Step 7: Accessing Your Files

1. Click the My Computer icon. The Open dialog box is displayed.
   
   NOTE: If a red X is displayed in the place of the My Computer icon (not illustrated):
   
   • Place your mouse pointer in the spot where the My Computer icon should be displayed.
   • Move the mouse pointer slowly to the left until it changes into a pointing finger icon.
   • Click the mouse button. The Upload Files From Your Computer window is displayed.
     
   • Click the Click Here To Select Files Individually link. The screen updates.
     
   • Click the first Browse button. The Choose File dialog box is displayed.
     
   • Continue with Step 8.

Step 8: Selecting the File

1. In the “Look in” drop-down list, navigate to the folder where the file you want to attach is stored.
2. In the list area, select the file you want to attach.
3. Click Open. A progress box is displayed and then the Create Message dialog box is displayed.

Step 9: Send the Message

1. The file you specified is displayed in the “Attachments” area.
2. Click Send. The message is sent to everyone you specified in the “To”, “CC” and “BCC” text boxes.
   
   NOTE: The message you sent is stored in the “Sent Mail” folder.

Step 10: View the Message

1. Click the Inbox folder. Any new messages or open messages that you did not delete or move to another folder are displayed.
2. In the right frame, click the link for the message. The message opens in a new window.

Step 11: Reply to the Message

1. Click Reply. The message opens in a new window.
   
   NOTE: The “To” and “Subject” text boxes are automatically filled in.

Step 12: Send the Reply

1. In the “Message” text box, type the text. In this example, we have used Thank you for letting me know.
2. Click Send. The message is sent to everyone in the To, CC and BCC text boxes.

Step 13: Create a Folder

1. In the “Folders” area, click Create Folder. The Create Folder window is displayed.

Step 14: Name the Folder

1. In the “Folder Name” text box, type a name. In this example, we used Greek Test.
2. Click Create. In the “Folders” area, the folder is displayed at the bottom of the list.

Step 15: Move a Message

1. If necessary, open the folder where the message is stored.
2. To the left of the message, select the check box.
3. In the “Move to” drop-down list, select the folder you want to move the message to.
4. Click Go. The message is moved to the specified folder.