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Applies This refers to Moodle 34.4 from September 20181 from December 2023 onwards

How to use the instant message system in Moodle  

There is an internal " instant " message system inside Moodle and there are a number of ways in which it can be used.

Message alerts

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You can see when you have messages by checking the 'Notifications' icon next to your name, top right.

Clicking on the 'Messages' icon shows a list of messages, most recent at the top, unread in bold.

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To reply to a message, click on the message. See To read and reply to a message, below.

Sending messages

You can send a message, either by using

• the The 'Messages' page (by dropping down your personal menu by clicking on your name at the top right of Moodle and selecting 'Messages')
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• by By clicking on the profile of another user (wherever you can see profiles).
  
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If you are an editing teacher you can also send a message to one or more participants in your module by using the  People (Participants) block

Sending messages

the Participants link.

To send a message to an individual

1. Drop down your personal menu from your name or icon on the top right of the Moodle page and click 'Messages'.
   
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2. Select 'Contacts' to message one of your contact or use the search bar to find someone at the bottom left of the message window

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Select 

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(use their full name, with % as a wildcard if necessary)

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You can also search for a course and pick a person on that course.

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Once a person's name comes up you can : view your message history with them.

3. To send a message

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click the person's name.

4. Type the message in the 'Write a message' box at the bottom of the screen and click

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the 'Send' (paper airplane) button.

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This screen also shows your more recent messages from and to the person.

Once you are in the message page for a user, you can click on their name at the top
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To read and reply to a message

If you can see a message popping up:

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1. Click the

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1. notifications icon (with the number of messages) Image Added
2. Type your reply into the box and then click on the Send a message button.
3. If you receive a popup notification of a message, click Go to message to read and reply to it.

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If you know you have a message, or to check if you have messages:

1. Drop down your personal menu from your name or icon on the top right of the Moodle page

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1. and select 'Messages' from the menu.
2. Click

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1. on the messages and they will appear on the right of the screen. Click on the message you want to read to open it up.
   A list of messages will appear ordered by date and listing name of sender/recipient.

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Alternatively: Search

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for a keyword in the 'Search' messages box.

Click on the name of the person to see all messages to and from them.

To send a message or reply to a message

Type into the 'Write a message' box and click 'Send' (paper airplane) icon.

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To send a message to selected course participants (for teachers and editing teachers only)

1. In your

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1. module click Participants, which is locatedin the row under the module header. 
   
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2. Select participants from the list (using the tick boxes) or use the "Select all users" button at the

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1. top of the list.

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3. At the bottom of the list, click "Choose..." and select 'Send a message'

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• Type the message
• Choose "Add/send message" from the "With selected users..." drop-down menu.
• Type the message then click the "Preview" button.
• Assuming you are satisfied with the message, click the "Send" 'Send message to XXX users' button.

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Managing contacts

People may be added to your list of contacts (or blocked from contacting you) by clicking the clicking 'Add contact' (or or 'Block contact) icon under ')  available by clicking on their name in the Messages window.

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A record of messages sent to/from a person may be obtained by searching for them, then clicking the "Message history" icon by their namethen their messages will be shown in the main window.

When are messages sent via email?

To enable messages to be sent via email, a user should select "email" in the Messaging setting of their profile for instant messages. They can select whether to have emails sent when online or offline or both.

• In the Messages page
• Under Administration, click Messages

• Set Personal messages between users
  for "When I'm logged in" and "when I'm offline"
  • For each you have the choice of
    • via "Email" and
    • via "Popup notification"

How can I view all my messages?

Go to Your personal menu > Messages

Click on the drop-down box (default set to Contacts) and change it to Recent Conversations

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1. Select from personal dropdown menu: 'Preferences' 
2. Then Message preferences.
   
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3. This will open the Preferences page, select 'Message preferences'.

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This opens the preferences page and and a side menu. In the side menu you can restrict who can message you and whether you receive an email notification. You can also enable clicking on the 'Enter' key on your keyboard to send. 

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