Use Instant Messages to quickly communicate with other learners or your course instructor.

To access the Instant Messages tool

1. On your course home page, click the Message alerts (envelope) icon.

2. Then click the Instant Message button.

Inbox tab

Your Inbox shows all your received messages and displays them as read or unread.

1. View: Choose between displaying All, Read, or Unread messages.

2. Set Read: Select messages and click Set Read to set all messages to read.

3. Set Unread: Select messages and click Set Unread to change all messages to unread.

4. Delete: Select messages and click Delete to delete all your messages.

Friends tab

Your Friends tab displays all the people you have added as friends in the system.

1. View: Choose between displaying All users, or users who are Online or Offline.

2. Message: Select a user or users to send a message to. Click Message to write and send a message.

3. Remove: Select a user or users. Click Remove to remove them from your Friends list.

4. Add Friends: Click to add users by searching or adding their username.

Classlist tab

The Classlist tab displays all learners and instructors in your course with their current activity status.

1. View: Choose between displaying users from different courses you are enrolled in.

2. Message: Select a user or users to send a message to. Click Message to write and send a message.

3. Add: Select a user or users. Click Add to add them to your Friends list.

Use the Instant Messages tool to send a message to your friends or other users in your course.

To send a message

1. On your course homepage, in the minibar, click Message Alerts and then Instant Messages.

2. Navigate to either the Friends or Classlist tab.

3. Select the user or users you want to message and click Message.

4. On the Send Message page, type your message into the textbox.

5. Click Send. The recipient will receive the message in their “inbox” tab.

To add friends

Add friends from your Brightspace courses to your Friends list for easier access when you want to send them a message.

To add friends using the Friends tab

1. On your course homepage, click Message Alerts and Instant Messages.

2. Click on the Friends tab on the top left.

3. Click Add Friends on the far right

4. Click Search Users. In the “Search For” field, enter a friend’s name. Select the user you want to add and click Add as Friend.

You can also add friends using the Classlist tab

1. On your course homepage, click Message Alerts and Instant Messages.

2. Navigate to the Classlist tab.

3. Select the user or users you want to add to your Friends list.

4. You can select a course with the drop down there and add friends from your other courses.

Be sure to click “Add” to save your changes.