Is there a way to enable Blackboard to alert instructors and students when they receive new email through the "messages" tool? We all appreciated the notifications that the previous version sent and the little envelope that was visible when one received mail. There it does not appear that there is an "warning" that one has received a message in Blackboard 9 unless you physically enter the messages tool. Can anyone help?
Regina,
No, there is no option for receiving email notifications about new messages in Blackboard. There is an add-on tool that your system administrator can install called "My Messages", which will show you a list of all your messages after you log in the same way "My Announcements" shows you announcements, but there's nothing the ties into the notification system to send out email notifications.
Mike
Thank you so much! Can you tell me where we can find the add-on tool? Does it come with Blackboard and its just a matter of installation or do we need to purchase it? If we need to purchase or download it, where might we find it? I really appreciate your help.
It is a "building block", which is a Blackboard add-on to add features or functionality. Building blocks can be developed by Blackboard, by commercial vendors, by schools, or by individuals who just want to add features.
The "My Messages" building block is available at OSCELOT, which is an open-source site for Blackboard developers. The direct link is http://projects.oscelot.org/gf/project/wsccmymessages/. it is free, but does require that your school have a license for the community system, since it creates a new module type.