The email tool allows the instructor to give rich, rapid feedback and can be an excellent resource to facilitate interaction and group work among students. When using the email tool, you will not have to worry about receiving unwanted messages from outside of WebCT or keeping track of changing email addresses. It is important to remember that neither the discussion tool nor mail tool will allow you to retract a message once it has been sent!

It may be helpful to emphasize to students that the mail tool is used for private questions regarding grades and other private issues. The discussion board is a better venue for course-related questions where the answer may be relevant for all students in the class. Using the discussion board for course-related question may prevent you from answering the same question several times through email. If a student sends a relevant comment or question through email, email him/her back and request to put the comment on the discussion board. Further tips are below:

1. If you would like to respond to a message but do not have the time, mark the message as "unread" to remind yourself to come back to it later.
2. You may use the email tool to attach files to send to students, but for files to be sent to the entire class, consider posting them on the discussion board. If you post an assignment on the discussion board, you may ask students to reply privately so that the assignment is returned to your mail box.
3. Use the mail tool for students to submit assignments with written responses. Ask students to put the same subject in the subject line so you may compile and download the assignments quickly.
4. If typing a longer message, you may save it as a draft to come back to it later, or you may compose it using a word processor and cut and paste the finished text into the message box.
5. Use the search tool for help in organizing longer lists of messages.
6. If you rename folders, do not forget which folder was originally the inbox, outbox, and draft folder.
7. You may send messages from the Manage Students page. Next to a student's name is a mail icon which will bring up a compose mail message screen addressed to the student.
8. With the student presentation tool, you can email students by group.
9. If you use the equation editor in your class, consider giving students some practice with it first. To edit equations in a reply, use the quote or forward options.