TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. What You'll Accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have sent your first message to students and understand how to manage basic conversations in itslearning. This process takes about 10-15 minutes and gives you the foundation for effective student communication.
2. Before You Begin
• Ensure you have teacher access to at least one course
• Students must be enrolled in your course to receive messages
• Have a specific message purpose in mind (assignment reminder, feedback, etc.)
3. Quick Start Workflow
Step 1: Access Messages
Click the chat bubble icon in the main menu (top right of your screen). You'll see a badge with unread message count if you have new messages.
Step 2: Start New Conversation
Click "New message" (green button) to open the message composer.
Step 3: Add Recipients
In "Add recipients" field, search for:
- Individual students by name
- Course name to message all course participants
- Project name for project-specific messaging
✓ Checkpoint: You should see your selected recipients listed below the search field
Step 4: Choose Message Type
If messaging multiple people, select:
- "Group conversation" for ongoing discussion where every participant can see all the messages
- "Individual messages" to send separate conversations to each person
Step 5: Compose Your Message
- Type your message in the text field
- Add attachments using the paperclip icon (20MB limit)
- Keep messages clear and professional
✓ Checkpoint: Your message appears in the text field and recipients are confirmed
Step 6: Send Message
Click the green arrow button to send your message.
Step 7: Monitor Responses
Return to the messages panel to:
- View replies (conversations update instantly)
- See read/unread status
- Continue the conversation
✓ Checkpoint: Your sent message appears in the conversation list
Step 8: Manage Conversations
Click the settings icon (gear) in any conversation to:
- Search within conversation
- Mark as unread
- Add or remove participants (group conversations)
- Close or delete conversations (course conversations)
4. Essential Next Steps
- Now you can: Send individual messages, create group discussions, and share files with students
- Recommended next:
- For advanced users: [Instant messaging in itslearning - comprehensive guide]
5. Need More Help?
- Related Getting Started Articles: [Getting Started: The Calendar]
- Still stuck? Contact your itslearning administrator