Internal Mail vs. External Mail in Blackboard
Internal Mail
In Blackboard, the internal email feature is called Messages. However, your professor may use the name of Mail or Blackboard Mail on the Course Menu to use Messages tool. For internal email in Blackboard, you can only send and receive mails from your professor and fellow students in the class.
The Internal Mail (Messages) is commonly used for private conversations with your professor or students in your class. Like an Internet email (yahoo or gmail), it allows you to send, receive, reply, and forward mail messages. You can also create folders to organize messages in Inbox.
Your professor may use Internal Mail (Messages) for sending your class assignments, summary, or notes. Students may be asked to submit their assignment as an attachment in Internal Mail.
- We highly recommend that students and professors to use Blackboard Internal Mail for email communication.
External Mail
This feature is usually disabled for students for sending an email to professor in Blackboard course. However, your professor may use External Email feature to send an email to your College Email address. We recommend that students check their college email regularly. The instruction on how to access student college email can be found at this page. (Scroll down to College Email section).
Blackboard Messages - Internal Mail
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| Video - Blackboard Messages - Internal Mail | Video - Blackboard Messages - Internal Mail |
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In Blackboard, the Internal Mail that only registered students and your course professor can access is called Messages. Inbox: contains all messages that you have received. Sent: includes all messages that you have sent. 2. In the Inbox, the |
In online courses, many professors expect their students to use the internal mail - Messages to communicate with them. Students in the class may also use the Messages tool to communicate with their fellow students. The number next to the Messages on the Navigation bar indicates the number of unread messages you have received. To see the Messages, click on the Messages link on the Navigation bar. On the Messages page, you will see all the messages you have received or you have sent. For each message, you will see the names of the sender and recipients. The messages you have received or sent will be listed chronologically with the most recent message on the top. You will see each of the initial messages on the Messages page directly. The purple number next to a sender indicates the number of unread messages you have received. To read all unread messages relating to the original sender, click on the sender's name. |
icon identifies a message that you have not read. The 
icon identifies a message that you have read. The icon 
identifies a message that includes attached files.Read and Reply a Mail in Messages - Internal Mail
Video - Read and Reply a Mail in Messages - Internal Mail
To access Blackboard Messages tool, click on the Messages link on the Course Menu (The Messages tool may also be labeled as Course Mail, Mail, etc.). You will see two folders: Inbox and Sent. This page also indicates a number of Unread messages in Inbox and a number of Total messages in Inbox and Sent.
Read
1. To access a message you have received, click on Inbox. You will see the messages displayed in a chronological order with the most recent message at the top.
2. Click on the message Subject to read the message.
Reply
1. To reply to a message, go to Reply, select Reply to Sender. This opens a new message window.
2. Type your message.
3. When you are ready, click on Submit to send. The new message will be delivered to the recipient's Inbox on the Messages page on Blackboard.
4. To verify that your message has been sent, go to Sent folder. You will see that the message you just sent is stored in the Sent folder.
Send a Mail in Messages - Internal Mail
In most online courses, professors expect that students use Internal Mail, the Messages tool to communicate with your professor and fellow students.
| Blackboard Original | Blackboard Ultra |
| Video - Send a Mail in Messages - Internal Mail | Video - Send a Message in Messages - Internal Mail |
| 1. To access Blackboard Messages tool, click on the Messages link on the Course Menu (The Messages tool may also be labeled as Course Mail, Mail, etc.). If you do not see the Messages link (or other link to access Internal Mail) on the Course Menu, it means that you will use your college email to communicate with your professor. In this case, we recommend students check the course syllabus to find out their professor's email address. 2. When you are on the Messages page, click on Create Message to open a new message window. 3. To find the person to whom you would like to send a message. Click on To box. You will see the list of students and your professor in the left box. Select the person to whom you will send the message and click on the right-arrow to bring the person to the Recipients box. 4. Enter the message subject in the Subject box. 5. Type the message in the Body - Content Editor box. Review your message. 6. When you are ready, click on Submit. 7. To verify that your message has been sent, go to the Sent folder. When you see the message you just sent in the Sent folder, it confirms that your message has been sent successfully. |
1. To send a message, click on the Messages link on the Navigation Bar. 2. Click on New Message. Click on the recipient box. You will see a list of people you can send the message. Choose the person you would like to send the message to - for example your professor. Type your message. If you check "send an email copy to recipients", the person will also receive an email in their college email Inbox. When you are ready to send the message, click on Send. The message you just sent will be kept on the Messages page and listed at the top. |
Attach a File to a Mail in Messages - Internal Mail
Video - Attach a File to a Mail in Messages - Internal Mail
This tutorial shows you how to attach a file to a message using Blackboard Internal Mail -Messages tool.
1. To access Blackboard Messages tool, click on the Messages link on the Course Menu (The Messages tool may also be labeled as Course Mail, Mail, etc.).
2. When you are on the Messages page, click on Create Message.
3. To find the person to whom you would like to send the message. Click on To. You will see the list of students and your professor. Select the person to whom you will send the message and click on the right-arrow (move to list of selected items) to bring the person to the Recipients box.
4. Enter the message subject in the Subject box.
5. Type the message in the Body - content editor box.
6. Click on Browse under Attachment. Locate the file. Double-click on the file.
7. In the ATTACHMENT, you see the file name. Click on Submit to send your message with the file.
8. To verify that your message has been sent, go to Sent folder. When you see the message you just sent in the Sent folder, it confirms that your message has been sent successfully.